Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
I have been feeling the mental benefits of an early morning swim
This was the main benefit for me. It was very much like yoga with the mindful breathing and stretching. Also, swimming is far less stressful on the joints. Getting somewhat of a swimmer's body after persisting with it for several years was a side bonus.

Unfortunately on September 1st 2019 the rec centre on my compound was destroyed by fire. The adjacent pool was drained and abandoned. That really wrecked my morning routine. After a month's sloth of staying in bed until five I got my carcass out of bed at 03.45 and started pounding the pavement inside the compound every morning for four loops inside the walls getting in about 4.8km. I developed a liking for that, but overall I much preferred swimming.