Last Friday I gave my first radio interview with my local radio station BBC Shropshire, the reporter, Rob Trigg, was a great sport and actually joined me IN my local lake (where I wrote Wim's Ice Odyssey )
It was a morning swim, frost was on the ground, the sky was blue, the air crisp and the water temperature was still just about in double digits at 10 degrees c.
Rob is new to wild swimming, this was his first lake swim so we took it easy.
First, we talked about the book, how my love for cold-water swimming started, and basic safety when open-water swimming.
Then we stripped to our cozzies, Rob's teeth were chattering before we got into the water, so we did what Wim would do - the 'horse stance', standing in position, back straight, legs bent in a squat, feet forward, focusing on our breath, we punched our arms across our bodies, right, left, right exhaling as we punched out, a little more quietly then Wim generally does it until we felt warm.
We got into the water steadily, incrementally so we could climatise to the temperate, Rob surprised me - he didn't scream, shout or swear which may have been because he is too cool or because he was recording and didn't want to lose his cool on air.
Seeing me standing there calmly he questioned whether or not the cold water was more painful at a certain depth for men than women . . .
He asked 'how do I warm up, what would Wim say?', I said "let's call him and find out,"
so there in the middle of a small lake in Shropshire we video-called Wim Hof, Rob was shocked, Wim was his usual all-powerful self, charismatic, genuine and passionate about his message.
15 minutes in Rob was getting cold but how do you end a conversation with Wim Hof - he's a legend, a man on a mission and someone who loves to talk.
Rob asked, "Wim you'll have to promise us next time you come to the Uk you'll come to visit us in Shropshire and we'll go swimming". . .and Wim replied, "Yes we will!"
We'll be waiting for you Wim, with hot chocolate & vegan cake at the ready.
The story aired in 3 different segments this morning at 7:45, 8:45, and 9:45 am
My mum called me at 10 pm to say it was on a different radio show as she was going to bed this evening - that's a lot of talking about open water swimming, how brilliant that so many people are interested in / taking up cold water swimming and feeling its benefits.
The interview will also be aired on 37 regional BBC radio shows, but you don't need to go searching, hear 1 of the interview segments here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dcx2qt
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