Summary
Overview
Dr. Chris and Dr. Zahn van Tulleken speak with Dr. Heather Massey, an Associate Professor of Extreme Environments at Portsmouth University, about the science and personal experience of cold water swimming. Heather, herself a cold water swimmer and ice swimming world championship competitor, discusses the physiological responses to cold water immersion, the safety considerations, and the potential benefits while maintaining a refreshingly balanced perspective that cold water swimming isn't for everyone.
Introduction to Cold Water Swimming and Heather's Background
The hosts introduce Dr. Heather Massey from Portsmouth University's Extreme Environments Lab, explaining how the lab studies both extraordinary feats of endurance and how ordinary bodies cope with temperature extremes. Zahn recounts his formative experience jumping into the Arctic Ocean for a BBC documentary, which led to a lasting interest in cold water swimming and its potential therapeutic effects. The conversation sets up Heather's unique dual perspective as both a researcher and practitioner of cold water swimming.
- Heather Massey is an Associate Professor studying extreme environments at Portsmouth University
- The lab studies both extraordinary athletes and ordinary people's responses to temperature extremes
- Zahn's Arctic Ocean swim in minus one degree water created a sense of elation lasting many days
- There's limited science on whether cold water swimming definitively works as treatment, but a large community uses it
" I jumped into the Arctic Ocean surrounded by icebergs... I stayed in for a minute and it was obviously very extreme and I was very frightened to get in... less than an hour later, I desperately wanted to get back in and do it again. And I had this sense of elation and well-being that lasted for many, many days. "
Heather's Personal Cold Water Swimming Practice
Heather reveals that despite being a world champion ice swimmer, she actually prefers warmer water and finds very cold water painful and miserable. She swims outdoors once or twice weekly in winter for just two to five minutes maximum, motivated primarily by social connection with friends and the tradition of beach barbecues. This honest admission provides a refreshingly balanced perspective on cold water swimming that contrasts sharply with typical wellness evangelism.
- Heather grew up swimming in local rivers and has always had access to outdoor swimming
- She doesn't particularly enjoy very cold water and finds ice swimming painful
- Winter swims are typically 2-5 minutes maximum in duration
- Social connection and beach barbecues with friends are primary motivations
" I don't like to swim in very cold water although we talked about being in very cold water i do like to you know swim in in the sea during the summer... being very cold was it was miserable it's painful "
" It really about what activity do you enjoy doing and can you do it in a group and can you do it outside "
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