“How to Power through the Toughest Times – Exclusive Survival Tips.” This headline jumped out at me as I was clicking through my email after meeting with two local women to learn about their latest swimming adventure.
This was exactly what I learned from Karen Whitehorn and Nynka Greer while speaking with them after their weekly dip into the cold waters of Lake Simcoe.
Although the headline was directed at small business owners, I thought how similar it was to what these two women were accomplishing together.
Whitehorn and Greer, both in their sixties, can be described as energetic, active individuals with a passion for the outdoors and adventure, not to mention gutsy.
Among many other accomplishments, Whitehorn celebrated her 60th birthday by bookending the year with swims across Lake Couchiching. She completed the annual Orillia Sun City Swim to support charity at the age of 59 and again just after turning 60.
Greer, a long-distance cyclist, recently celebrated her 67th birthday by successfully cycling across Canada (for the second time!).
Both women are semi-retired and have tried to spend as much time as possible over the past year keeping active, often with a group of like-minded women who get together regularly for aquafit workouts, swimming, cycling and hiking.
Once the cold weather arrived, the group continued with strength training in a semi-outdoor garage space and, for Whitehorn and Greer, cold water swimming.
It was Whitehorn’s idea to continue swimming into the cold weather. She built a sauna on her Lake Simcoe property about five years ago, primarily to extend the swimming season.
“I have been swimming here, at my family’s cottage (now Whitehorn’s home), since I was four. We would typically swim in the lake between the May 24th weekend and Thanksgiving.”
With the pandemic interrupting everyone’s lives this year, Whitehorn and Greer were especially motivated to keep active and get into the water. With each inspiring the other, they took their first cold water plunge on March 28, when there were still remnants of ice on the water.
“We were both really feeling the effects of the pandemic and feeling a bit down about it; it was tough at the beginning,” said Greer, who had always dreamed of participating in the polar bear dip during the Orillia Winter Carnival and thought this would be a chance to try something similar.
“It just blew me away – how good it felt,” exclaimed Greer. “It feels exhilarating, maybe similar to the feeling a marathon runner gets. It’s probably a physical response as well as the emotional reaction of doing something a bit crazy."
Both Whitehorn and Greer agree that the cold water dips act as a mood lifter.
“It puts you in a good place mentally,” said Whitehorn. “And the effects are lasting, at least for the rest of the day and often for several days.”
In fact, researchers who are looking into the scientific benefits of cold water swimming are discovering that cold water immersion can strengthen physical and mental health and improve the ability to deal with stress.
The way a cold water dip stimulates the body and produces a feeling of lasting euphoria is what inspires Whitehorn and Greer. They hope to continue their weekly swims until the lake freezes.
“We feel fortunate to have found a kindred spirit in each other,” said Greer. “I’m motivated to do anything outside and this has turned out to be something that helps us through a time that can get a bit depressing.”
Once the lake freezes, both women plan to remain active outdoors and look forward to enjoying the winter months, whether hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
For Whitehorn and Greer, discovering new ways to “power through the tough times,” will no doubt continue as they embark on winter adventures.
