"At three minutes you need to control your breathing so that you don't hyperventilate."
While you might be willing to brave frigid waters for Vancouver's annual Polar Bear Swim, you may run out of the water as fast as you ran in. And that isn't for lack of conviction.
Cold water shocks the system. Like any new activity, staying in cold water for extended periods of time requires training and preparation.
And that's just what two Vancouver locals set out to do.
Video creator Tim J McLeod recruited his friend Jesse to brave cold water for seven days until the adventurous pair could spend 10 minutes mostly submerged in the cold blue.
McLeod, 36, tells Vancouver Is Awesome that the key to success with cold water exposure is to perform tasks gradually. In other words, slow and steady wins the race, but still moving "enough that you're making real progress."
"Each day we'd push ourselves further and further. But not skip too far ahead," he explains.
While McLeod says his theory worked overall, on day seven they stayed in too long and "suffered" because of it. That said, he notes that the endurance challenge allowed him to "experience rapid growth by solving tomorrow's riddle by accomplishing today's task."
In order to do the Cold Water Challenge, this cold water enthusiast says you'll need: "a committed friend, a large towel, a decent plan, and a thermos filled with hot tea, plus good locations don't hurt." He adds that morning was a great time to do it because he could do something exciting before the workday.
"I think by going on early morning adventures I'm able to make sense of the pandemic more than if I stay in my apartment too much."
What does Tim do when he's not braving cold Vancouver waters?
Since he was a kid, McLeod has been making skateboard videos with friends. Since 2018, however, he's worked to develop his video production and storytelling skills.
"I believe that storytelling is one of the greatest things a person can do. Stories are epic and have the ability to go directly to our hearts and open our minds to new ideas," he explains.
"The world needs stories of togetherness and people who overcome their suffering."
When he isn't weaving together visual narratives, McLeod loves playing with his three-year-old daughter and six-month-old son. He also enjoys running, skateboarding, riding his bike, hanging out with his wife, watching the sunrise and he really loves a "good starry night."
He also loves Christopher Nolan films, adding: "I'm sure one day we will be friends."
Want to join him for a dip?
McLeod says he's looking for a stranger to brave the cold blue with him who is "terrified of cold water."
"I want to find out if what I learned from the endurance challenge could help someone more rapidly overcome their fears."
