Text displaying 'Cold Comfort' with a subtitle 'Winter Swimmers in Marblehead, MA'.

Based on the questionable premise that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, a hearty bunch of New Englanders from Boston's north shore choose to take twice-weekly early-morning swims all winter long. Apparently, this sort of thing is good for you.

A man standing at the shoreline facing the ocean on a cloudy day.
Elderly man jogging on a sandy beach near the ocean, wearing black running shoes, navy shorts, and no shirt, with houses visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Four women walking along a beach at the water's edge, wearing swimsuits, hats, and boots, with a scenic backdrop of water and distant houses or buildings.
People wearing swimsuits and swim caps wading in the ocean with a cloudy sky overhead.
Two people wearing blue jackets and black socks walk on a sandy beach with an urban waterfront in the background. One person carries a white bag, and both are dressed for cool weather with beanies.
A man standing on a wet beach wearing a blue rain jacket and a knit hat, with no shoes or pants, and sporting an unkempt beard and serious expression.
A view of a beach with a few people walking along the shore, a utility pole with speakers and lights, and a building with a shingled roof in the foreground. The sky is cloudy and overcast.
People standing under a pavilion on the beach near the ocean, with an overcast sky and horizon in the background.
Two women stand on a beach, one wearing a blue beanie and teal jacket, the other topless carrying a helmet, looking towards the ocean on an overcast day.
Two women in swimsuits and blue beanies standing on the beach, facing the ocean, with waves crashing at their feet.
An older man with a beard in a beanie hat, shirtless, and making a fist gesture in the water, surrounded by other people swimming and wearing winter hats, with a distant shoreline in the background.
Close-up of a woman wearing a black wetsuit and a black water-resistant cap with droplets of water on it, outdoors near water.
People gathered under a covered pavilion along a snowy shoreline, with water and distant islands in the background, on a cloudy day.
Two people walking along a snow-covered landscape near a body of water on a cloudy day.
Two shirtless men standing in shallow ocean water at the beach, wearing shorts, gloves, and shoes, with houses and trees in the background on a cloudy day.
A man standing knee-deep in the ocean at sunset, facing away from the camera, with the sky partly cloudy and the sun low on the horizon.
Woman in a white shirt and purple gloves standing chest-deep in water, wearing a blue beanie, with her eyes closed, smiling slightly, and a building in the distant background under a cloudy sky.
People in the water with their hands raised, wearing gloves and hats, during a sunset or sunrise over the ocean.
A person dressed in a bright yellow winter coat, gray pants, and brown boots walking in the snow near a wooden structure with a snow-covered roof, with a body of water and rocky island in the background.
Two people walking on a beach with a large tree in the foreground and a building on the left side. The sky is clear with some light, and the scene appears to be in the late afternoon or early evening.
A group of children playing and splashing in the ocean waves at the beach during sunset.
A woman in a green bikini top, patterned shorts, and a knit beanie is standing in shallow ocean water during sunset, with a clear sky and small islands in the background.
People gathered along a beach shoreline, dressed in winter clothing and hats, with a calm ocean and a cloudy sky in the background.
Group of people on a beach, wrapped in towels, wearing hats and jackets, some adjusting their hats or towels, with light poles and cloudy sky in the background.
Group of people in wetsuits and blue beanies running into the ocean waves on a beach.
Group of people running along the shoreline at the beach during the daytime with waves and buildings in the background.
People enjoying themselves at the beach, jumping in the waves and playing in the water during daylight.
Several people, some dressed in swimsuits and others in warm clothing like hats and gloves, are running into the ocean on a cloudy day.
An elderly man with a bald head and gray beard stands in the ocean, shirtless, with his fists clenched near his chest, gazing forward with a determined expression.
People under a beachside shelter preparing for or finishing a swim, with some sitting and others standing, wearing swim gear and outdoor clothing, near the water at a cloudy day.
A person dressed in a red coat, black boots, and a knitted hat with a pom-pom, walking on a snowy beach while carrying a white tote bag, with a cloudy sky and a row of houses in the background.
Group of people in the water at the beach raising their arms and smiling, with a cloudy sky in the background.
An elderly man with a beard, wearing a black swim cap, black gloves, and colorful swimming shorts, is walking through shallow water near the beach, with a cloudy sky overhead and houses in the distance.