"Call me strange, but plunging headfirst into the near-freezing, muddy waters of a London pond for a traditional Christmas morning swim with dozens of other thrill seekers was high on my holiday wish list.

However, nothing can prepare you for the shock of diving into the cold, dank water for the first time.

'Waiting to dive into the cold water offers a similar trepidation to going off on a military operation,' said former British air force pilot Alan Lacy, 84, who first signed up for the race 60 years ago."

(Via London swimmers take Yuletide plunge in one of world's oldest swimming races - International Herald Tribune: .)

| outdoor swimming | 27 December 2007; 1:05:33 AM |# | | |