Cold Water
Description
In Cold Water, we follow lifelong outdoor swimmer, Jack Hudson, on a shuddering journey from the pandemic-stricken lidos of London to the geothermal rivers and 2-degree bays of Iceland.
Along the way, Jack reconnects with his semi-aquatic family, meets weathered ice swimmers (Colin Hill, Pedro Ordenes, Anna-Carin Nordin) and recounts some of the most famous endurance swims, like Lewis Pugh’s minus 1.7-degree kilometre at the North Pole and Lynne Cox’s crossing of the Bering Strait as the Cold War thawed. He also explores the science of exactly what happens to our bodies when submerged into cold water. While training with his brothers for some of the toughest feats that exist in this mysterious sport: the dreaded sub-5-degree Ice Km and Ice Mile.
It’s a simple act, ditching your clothes and steadying your breath. Before you inch down into that brutal, icy clench. Every time I do it, I go through the same internal cycle – 'Why the hell am I doing this? I feel like I’m on fire. Why didn’t I stay in bed? Aw okay, here we go. Good God, that stings…'
Thoughts break out in erratic patterns. The devil on your shoulder chitters inanely. Then comes the steady revelation – 'Wait, I feel... okay? Numb, maybe? Am I alright? Okay, this is less painful. Breathe now. Reach out. You’re okay.'