Magazines for inspiration
Published on 10th November 2020
I can’t believe it, I have become an open water swimmer! Months of watching crazy people swim in all kinds of weather, from glorious sunshine and calm days with the sea flat as glass, to choppy seas with howling winds, yet somewhere, deep in my psyche - it appealed to me.
So after checking the tides, off I went - donning togs, swinging a bag with towel, goggles, gloves, and booties inside.
On the beach, I gingerly inched my way towards a crowd of strangers, all disrobing. They welcomed me and asked how long I’d been doing this.
Once they discovered it was my first time they looked after me and made sure I didn’t stay in for too long. Ten minutes max. because as they explained, the body can continue to loose heat for up to thirty minutes after getting out of the water.
In the two weeks I have been doing this I have discovered so much.
Did you know that there is a cold water shock protein and studies have shown that it may protect the brain from dementia. It also is supposed to burn calories, (think Covid belly!), boosts circulation, helps mobility, and it’s a great way to meet like-minded people. It has even been reported that it can help with anxiety and depression, as well as pain relief.
Of course you have to be careful. Never stay in the water too long or swim alone. Bring layers that you can wear when you get out. An online search will bring up websites with the how-to, and the whereabouts of clubs in your area.
One of the group recommended Wild Swimming in Ireland by Maureen McCoy and Paul McCambridge.
A quick look at the online catalogue shows Dublin City Libraries have copies and I will be reserving mine as soon as libraries reopen.
Then I thought about online magazines.
Armed with my Dublin City Library card I created an account with Pressreader and found ‘Go Wild’ , and ‘Ireland of the Welcomes’, two brilliant free magazines with fantastic places to discover around Ireland.
Looking forward to planning a post lockdown trip to take in the sights from the land and now the sea!
Submitted by Linda in Ballymun Library.