I was a kayaker this morning for a group of veterans swimming from Alcatraz to SF. It was a great morning… Beautiful, flat water, warm… And a bunch of men and women hauling ass through the water. Including guys missing limbs but swimming just the same. It was pretty cool.
Before the swim I was talking with a vet about the virtues of cold water. In addition to its beneficial effects on the immune system, blood thickness, endorphins, and testosterone levels, I pointed out how cold water swimming really settles my nervous system down. It calms me and levels me out. Now I don’t have PTSD, but the guy pointed out that this effect might be really beneficial for combat veterans, many of whom have stress through the roof. Pretty interesting thought.
He was a photographer for the swim, so he rode in a boat. But he’s thinking about doing the swim next year.
crossposted from Facebook
September 25, 2016 at 07:38PM
