Photo op with a winter swimmer musclegirl

One winter I was visiting a major city in the north for work, and on a freezing but sunny Saturday morning I decided to go jogging around the beaches and waterfronts. I was comfortably covered up in full winter running gear, but still feeling a bit proud of myself for running outside despite the freezing temperatures. There was snow and ice on the ground, but for most part the sea was still open and the winter sun was glimmering on the calm water.

I had been running for a while when I spotted something moving in the water in the distance. As I ran closer I realized it was a human and first tought to myself that his wetsuit was a bit strange color, until I realized that the person wasn't actually wearing one. And as the figure came closer I was even more surprised to see that the person was actually a very fit woman, with muscular arms and back, wearing just a boldly colored green bikini, black swimming cap and goggles to protect her against the freezing water.

As there was practically no wind nor waves I could clearly hear the water splashing and her gasps as she caught a breath of air between strokes. Small clouds of vapor escaped her mouth every time, adding to the surreal view. She was soon nearing the ladder but to my surprise instead of grabbing it she just kept on swimming right past it, heading to the opposite direction. I think my jaw literally dropped open as I realized she wasn't just in for a quick dip - she was swimming laps.

A couple of other passers-by had stopped to watch her from the ladder she must've used to enter the water, and where a lone backpack, towel and a pair of sneakers were waiting. "She's really something isn't she" said a older woman who was out walking her dog. "I walk my dog daily around these parts, and I see her doing these crazy swims all the time. That girl is just nuts! You know, she's been in there for at least 20 minutes already. I don't understand how she don't freeze to death!"

I just had to stay and watch how this would end, so I chatted with the old lady for a while as the girl kept on going in the water for 2 more passes. Then she finally turned towards the ladder and started climbing up, panting and breathing heavily from her workout. As she emerged from the water my jaw dropped a second time. Her body could've been straight from the stage of a fitness competition, bulging with muscle and with non-existent bodyfat, which made her swim even more unbelievable. "Hi... *puff*.. *puff*... pretty brisk today, eh?" she said and smiled, catching her breath with her hands supported on her knees.

I blurted out some silly questions like "aren't you cold?" which she must've heard a thousand times, but she was very polite and continued to talk with me about her training - she worked out at least twice a day, doing heavy gym sessions, CrossFit, triathlons, open water swims.. you name it - and how she built her cold endurance by doing these workouts outdoors as often as possible, with practically no protection from the elements. "Just to see how far I can push myself." Wow. She did some stretching as we spoke, still wearing just her dripping wet bikini. I guess she knew quite well what kind of a show she was putting up, but she didn't seem to be too bothered. After all even if the ladder she used wasn't in the center of the city she must've been quite used to catching a lot of attention, and with a body like that she must've turned a lot of heads anywhere she went. She was even fine to pose in a photo with me, and apparently she had a Instagram account with lots of training photos so she wasn't really too shy anyways.

All too soon however she said that she must get going to get warmed up, grabbed her stuff and disappeared into a close-by changing booth. Soon she emerged out in a skin-tight running suit, sneakers and the backpack on her back and took off running to the opposite direction, waving to me as I was left dumbfounded at the waterfront, trying to comprehend what I'd just seen.

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Even if I say it myself, I really like how this pic and story turned out. Well except from the crappy drawing of the guy, but I guess no-one's watching him anyways..