Posted By Rich Bryant on November 7, 2009

Having recently returned from a 10-day swing from Tampa up through Florida and the state of Alabama into Tennessee, I was more than amazed at the change in climate along the way.  Gone were the long, warm, bright and sunny skies of Central Florida – replaced by brief days with nightly blasts of air that, to this Tampan, can only be described as ‘Arctic’.

While it was wonderful to connect with old friends and family, and take in a high school football game (played on a veritable frozen tundra of a gridiron), I must confess to a certain sense of relief when our vehicle once again began its southward plunge on the return trip to warm, tropical Tampa.

During that sojourn I found it impossible to maintain any semblance of a daily exercise program, and in fact found myself consuming “fast food” as though I were a teenager set loose with a hundred dollar bill (well, there was the odd salad).  So, on my return I was intent to immediately resume my daily exercise regime – and in particular my time spent swimming laps in the pool.

After a full 10-days during which 2200 miles was covered it was a bit surreal to drive through the old neighborhood again (I guess I’m not a very sophisticated traveler).  Having arrived in the early evening hours, I decided to postpone the resumption of my exercise until the following day.

The next day I did, indeed, get suited up and found my way to the pool.  The weather was not hot, but certainly not chilly, as I prepared to plunge into the clear, soothing and rehabilitating waters.  Quickly plunging in to commence my exercise I was more than stunned by the somehow greatly-reduced temperature of the water.  Indeed, my breath was taken away, and I felt that certainly I must have taken a wrong turn during the trip and ended up at the Bearing Strait(!)

Gone were the warm, balmy days of the proverbial “endless Summer” – replaced with a comparatively “blustery” Fall season that sucked every bit of warmth from the neighborhood pool.  Now I was faced with an icey plunge each day if I was to continue along my interrupted path to fitness.

Undaunted I pushed on and, once acclimated, was able to achieve a modest workout.

Since then the water has remained chilly, and each day has required a few minutes of acclimation.  However, now the mind is ready to confront the icy depths in the stubborn pursuit of health.  I yet persevere in with my resolution to swim around the calendar.

Let us see what the months to come will be serving up!

Categories: Workout Diary
Tags: cold, swimming, vacation