Mrs Ape gets the jitters
Kate remarked on how she was nervous a while before she normally is nervous. The temperature at the deep end was between 3 and 3.5 degrees C – let’s call it 3.25. We chatted with Sue and some more with Claire and Hilary. My hands were already cold. I remembered my hat and googles this time. I got in and set off pronto. Too fast. My breathing rhythm lost, I had to vary between twos and threes on the way back down the pool. I remembered to relax. I thought I’d just be doing two, but I could see Kate turn ahead of me. Four then. Where are my hands? And where are my forearms? I decide to try thinking myself warmer. It fails, but I do not notice that I have turned for another two lengths. Going into deep water seems to be harder than swimming into shallow water. I comfort myself with this delusional idea – coming back will be easier. Kate’s not quite finished and I’d like to stop when she does, so I turn again and go half way up the pool and back. I stop, stand and shake my hands in a vain attempt to regain some feeling in my digits. I can peel off my hats and googles, but the ear plugs require fine motor skills and I have temporarily lost mine. I manage to dislodge them and steam over to the sauna to warm up.
Ape 700 yards, Mrs Ape 400 yards – 3.25 degrees C.
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- Mrs Ape gets the jitters
