The Swedes have a word for it ... BADKRUKA

It is the word they use to describe someone who refuses to swim in open water due to the low temperature of the water. Literally, it means "bathing coward".

The Sheffield GG Wild Swim group have a word for it ... SPLOGGING

Plogging with a swim added.

And so it was that on a beautiful Sunday morning, with the air temperature hovering at zero centigrade, nine intrepid runners set off to litter pick along the Rivelin Valley.

Having gathered the courage to get out of the warmth of our cars, we stood at the start of one of Sheffield's most beautiful valleys for a group photo - and somehow managed to get the less than scenic toilet blocks in the background ... maybe a sign that our minds were already being affected by the bitter cold.

We tidied the whole of the valley, with a good haul of rubbish at the end, including a pair of pants and an item of rubbish that Ash was not very nappy to have to pick up (see photo above)!

Good work done, we turned our minds to the challenge of the swim. Having measured the water at an icy 1.3C and having seen solid ice on the slow moving parts of the river, there was a momentary group feeling of BADKRUKA, before Michelle and Celine took the plunge and waded into the river. Like lemmings, we followed ...

A quick change into dry clothes, followed by a toasty run back to the start of the valley and a warming cup of tea in the cafe had us recharged in no time and celebrating birthdays for Non-Kruka Kat and Able-swimmer Abi (on Wednesday) with birthday cakes that they had both made. Having had our cake and eaten it we started planning our next SPLOG - which will be at Crookes Valley Park on Saturday 15th February. We can't guarantee that the water will be any warmer - but we can guarantee cake ... hope you can join us.