Later when I was training for my first triathlon, I reached out to Robin about coaching me on freestyle swimming. While I could swim for survival, I was unskilled in terms of the front crawl, which is typically the stroke used in triathlon. As Robin and I chatted during my swim lessons, I learned of her latest swim adventure which involved swimming in extremely cold water. I was highly impressed, to say the least. 

Come to find out, short spurts of cold water exposure is healing for the human body and psyche. Among many other benefits, the cold water supports a healthy immune system and helps with mental health struggles like anxiety and depression. Granted, cold water exposure must be approached with knowledge and caution. There is a science and art to it, so before you partake in a true polar plunge, be sure you know all the facts. 

As you'll learn in the interview, Lake Junaluska is Robin's regular spot for open water swimming, but she has a few other favorites as well. I stopped by the Pigeon River ramp where Robin and her friend, Drew, often swim while Lake Junaluska is being dredged each year. It was less than 50 degrees outside and the water temperature was 42.8. This didn't stop Robin and Drew. They waded right in and got to swimming. We explore the art and science of cold water swimming later in the interview. It was an incredible thing to watch. Robin's record was when she swam in Lake Powhatan at a water temp of 39.3 degrees. 

Q&A with Robin

Rumble: Tell us about your history with the sport of swimming. 

Robin: I grew up swimming competitively from the time I was five-years old in summer league through my sophomore year in college, where a shoulder injury ended my career, I thought. 

Rumble: What were your main events? 

Robin: My best event was the 200 meter butterfly, which I swam in the U.S. National Championships in 1974. My sophomore year in high school, I swam in the New Jersey Male High School State Championships because there was no meet for females. My junior year, we founded a girls team at the Peddie School, the prep school I attended. Their program became and remains a national powerhouse.

Rumble: What years did you coach at Tuscola and what did you enjoy about your time coaching? 

Robin: I coached Tuscola from 2002-2015. When the principal called and asked me to do it, I committed to six years to get my three children through the program, but ended up staying for 14 years. During that time, Tuscola produced numerous individual state champions, and both the men’s and women’s teams finished as high as 3rd in the state. Quite a few swimmers went on to swim successfully in college. I also coached SMAC (Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club) for four years, working with the younger swimmers.

Rumble: As an adult, has swimming always been a part of your health and fitness routine? 

Robin: As  mentioned earlier, I injured my shoulder and had surgery while a sophomore at Princeton. I essentially took 25 years away from the sport, dabbling here and there, but definitely not training. In 2001, I injured my foot. Walking for exercise became difficult, so I turned to the pool. Another swimmer saw me swimming and invited me to swim with a Masters group, and I have been going ever since.

Rumble: What does swimming do for your mental and physical well-being? 

Robin: Swimming keeps me sane. Physically, it is the most beneficial sport for the body. It uses more muscles than any other activity. The cardio benefits are unmatched, and the water is kind to the joints, so it can be enjoyed at any age. Swimmers are a friendly and welcoming group, mostly because the majority of our time is spent with ourselves and the water. 

Rumble: Tell us about swimming in cold temperatures and cold water. 

Robin: I started swimming outdoors year-round during the time the pools were closed due to COVID. A friend asked me to accompany him on a regular basis that first winter, and he showed me the ropes and taught me to recognize the signals my body was giving me. We simply continued getting in at least weekly as the temperatures got colder. The body gets acclimated to the "cold water shock" that occurs when first entering the water. The benefits to cold water are both physical and mental. Physically, the body turns the bad white fat cells to good brown fat cells, which provide warmth. The endorphins produced leave you feeling refreshed and energized for hours afterward. Mentally, you "get comfortable being uncomfortable" which translates into so many situations in our work and home lives. In the water, we have to be alert to what our body is telling us every minute as it can be a life or death situation. We can't think of anything else. I think this gives the brain a much needed break from our stresses in other areas. The biggest difference between warm and cold water swimming is time in the water. The colder the water, the less time in. 

Rumble: You’ve mentioned not being a fan of wet suits, even in very cold water. 

Robin: I tried a wetsuit. It was miserable. It was just too constricting and affected my breathing. On top of that, wetsuits add buoyancy, and I am already quite buoyant, so i felt uncomfortable swimming. I have "bioprene" (natural body fat) so i don't need neoprene. The first winter of swimming, I did wear boots, gloves, and cap as the cold is felt much more quickly in the extremities, but I’ve learned to adapt.

Rumble: How does cold water swimming affect bodily systems? Do you have to "train" your body to adapt to the cold water?  

Robin: Cold water causes the blood to go to the core in order to keep the vital organs warm. Cold water shock causes the blood vessels in the skin to close, which increases the resistance of blood flow. Heart rate also increases. As a result the heart has to work harder and your blood pressure goes up. The sudden cooling of the skin by cold water also causes an involuntary gasp for breath.This can contribute to a feeling of panic, increasing the chance of inhaling water directly into the lungs. This can be minimized if we are prepared for it, so it is a good idea to learn from someone with experience. And of course, NEVER GO ALONE!

Rumble: In terms of swimming, what does Robin's week typically look like?  

Robin: Since I gave up pool swim training three years ago, things are a bit different. In winter, I try to get in at least one cold water swim per week, more if time and weather allow, and I can find someone to accompany me. I'm in the pool teaching three days per week, so that allows me to maintain my water feel, but I crosstrain a lot (weights and spin) in the winter. As the temps warm, I will do more swimming. During the summer months, I usually swim a minimum of 15 miles per week in the open water. Much of that is in Lake Junaluska, but I also swim in Douglas Lake regularly, and weekly in the Tennessee River in Knoxville with the KOWS (Knoxville Open Water Swimmers), the Masters team to which I belong.

Rumble: Tell us about some of your previous or upcoming events and competitions. 

Robin: I participate in open water swim events as much as I can. I've won the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championships in the open water four times, most recently the 10K event in Knoxville in 2019. In 2021, I completed the Triple Crown of the Tennessee River, swimming 21.2 miles in three events in the same year. I also completed the Knoxville Halloween Swim, an 11.5 mile swim in the dark through downtown Knoxville. I've completed the Swim Around Charleston 12.5 mile swim, and done 10 miles in Vermont's Lake Memphremagog, as well as a 10K at altitude in Wellington Lake, Colorado. This coming summer, I'm planning to swim across Lake Tahoe, 10.5 miles.

Rumble: What type of students do you teach at the Fitness Center? 

Robin: Since retiring from teaching for Haywood County Schools, I've been working part time teaching swim lessons at the Fitness Center. I teach everyone from children to adults. Currently, my youngest is four and my oldest 82. I also work with triathletes on technique, so they can go faster with less effort in the swim portion of their events. 

Rumble: There seems to be a tight community of swimmers in this area. How do you all stay connected? Where do you swim and how often? 

Robin: There is a SMAC Masters program at the Rec Center which meets twice a week for group workouts. In summer, there is a group of us who meet regularly at Lake Junaluska. We have a Facebook group, so if people are swimming outside at regular times, they post and invite others to join. 

Rumble: Your story is so amazing. Anything else you’d like to share? 

Robin: I will add that age doesn't matter! I'm 65-years old and doing far more than I ever thought possible. The water is your friend if you just embrace it. I'm happy to help anyone who is interested in any aspect of swimming.