Polar Bear Swim

We did it, we did it, we did it.  We felt the fear.... sucked it up.... spat it out..... and did it (the polar bear swim). The ambient temperature was -10, the water in the lake was around 0c.  So yep it was cold - colder than cold.  Freezing in fact.  The event co-ordinators even had to rake the ice that was forming over the hole before the first of the many crazy swimmers jumped in.

We had no plan of attack apart from what we were going to wear.  We were told to wear socks so that our feet would not stick to the ice as we exited the lake.  We were also told to not warm up too much before the jump because the water would feel that much colder.  We took heed of these pieces of advice but the water was still ridiculously, shiveringly, hurtfully cold.  Strangely both Bren and I described it as exhilarating - an almost out of body experience.  We were so pumped afterwards even with the  pain in our feet caused by the extreme cold.  I dashed off to the fire pits to get a little bit warmer.  Bren on the other hand decided that it would be a rush to jump in again.  This time he jumped in with his buddy Todd Pritchard after Todd told Brendan that he "had" to do the swim again.

The walk to the warming huts felt like it took forever but once inside super hot gas powered heaters helped us to thaw out.  The smile on our faces (although we look a little pained in the photos) could not be wiped away.

So here is something for you all to ponder as we begin a new year.  It speaks volumes to Bren and I.

I must not fear.  Fear is the mind-killer.  

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.  

I will face my fear.  I will permit it to pass over me and through me.  

And when it has gone I will turn the inner eye to see its path.  

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. 

 Only I will remain.

The following photos were taken by the wonderful and talented Laureen Carruthers.  http://www.laureencarruthersphotography.com