January 2024

Even though I’ve never been competitive in my life :) I decided to have a look at my progress alongside others completing the same challenge from up and down the country.

When this winter’s challenge began, there were a total of 337 registered to take part in the Arctic Polar Bear variation. At the end of January, according to the published stats, there are now only 268 still continuing.

At the end of December I was 32nd in the full list and I’m delighted to see that at the end of January I have nudged up a little to 25th.

I am utterly in awe of the people at the top of the list, with Lucy leading the way having completed an incredible 53,537m already! Some of these swimmers are also completing the challenge in freshwater lakes and reservoirs where they can and probably do swim every day. However, the water temperature will also have been even colder than the sea. It’s incredibly inspiring and my humble goal will be to stay within the top 30 by the time we reach 31st March.

Extract from the official Polar Bear Challenge Swim Lists of the top thirty and the last competitor still on the list. This was compiled as of 6th February (which includes swims to 31st January)