As an incentive to keep swimming over the winter I recently signed up the complete the Jedi Polar Bear Challenge along with my mother. This challenge is part of the Polar Bear challenge, a fantastic initiative from a Plymouth based cold water swimmer known as Mama Bear which runs annually from 1st November to 31st March every year.
The Jedi Bear challenge required you to swim 3000 m every month along with 10 specified swims at the following temperatures. No wetsuits are allowed so its swimsuit only with cap and googles only. It is back to Channel rules!
Specified Swims
2000 metres at 9.00 degrees or less | 1500 metres at 9.00 degrees or less |
1750 metres at 8.00 degrees or less | 1250 metres at 8.00 degrees or less |
1500 metres at 7.00 degrees or less | 1000 metres at 7.00 degrees or less |
1250 metres at 6.00 degrees or less | 750 metres at 6.00 degrees or less |
1000 metres at 5.00 degrees or less | 450 metres at 5.00 degrees or less |
I had never consistently swum over the winter and what I took from it was that the accountability of the challenge kept me swimming in the rain and snow. Also the endorphins from cold water swimming are fantastic and helped with a long winter of lockdowns and at times very miserable news. If you want to sign up for next year please see https://polarbearchallenges.com/