Swimming in the cold

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2012-02-11 8:51 PM

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McAllen
Subject: Swimming in the cold

I'm new to the forum, but anyways I have a quick question. I'm racing the HITS triathlon in corpus this upcoming weekend, and the water temp is projected to be 61 to 66 degrees which is a mite bit chilly, especially if its closer to 61. I can suck it up, but it makes me consider a wetsuit. I've never had one before, but I hear a tri suit can definitely improve your swimming time. I'm a relatively strong swimmer and its my favorite part of the triathlon (750m in about 10 minutes on a good day).

however, having never practiced in a wetsuit, not knowing how to transition with one and the prospect of cold water. Should I get one and race in it? Or just tough it out and rock the speedo? The second option is investing in a full body tri suit; idk if they're any warmer but it'd help transitions a bit. This is my 7th or 8th triathlon by the way.

2012-02-11 9:12 PM
in reply to: #4042559

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McAllen
Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold
Also when if I order (where I live has no major athletic specific stores), should I size down one? I'm used to knocking down my normal size to 26s/28s for swimming (even though I wear a size 30 for a suit) so comfort isn't a problem, I'm definitely more for speed.
2012-02-11 9:18 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold

Having experienced a couple of 90º pool swims recently, the 60º swims at the start of tri-season are starting to sound really nice. Cold sucks, but hot is worse.

2012-02-11 9:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold

I agree completely, but I've been getting the chills a lot easier lately. Last year I wouldn't have complained but my swim coach has been babying us with a heater this year so I'm kinda stickly about it :p

I'm leaning to rockin the banana hammock for the race (speedo). Speed comes from training not a fancy suit



Edited by odpaul7 2012-02-11 9:33 PM
2012-02-11 10:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold
No way I'd swim in 61* water without a wetsuit, even for a sprint. There's a local sprint around here in May with a 1/4 mile swim and a deep water start. Getting into that lake is simply brutal. Last year I bought a neoprene cap and it made that swim almost tolerable.
2012-02-11 10:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold

Go with the suit.  Your allready good times will become even better.  I am roughly 12-14% faster in my wetsuit.  More bouyant, less drag, warmer in chilly H2O, it's a no brainer. Depending on the length of your races, don't sweat the transition times, with just a bit of practice and some body glide, you're out of the suit in no time.

2012-02-11 11:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold
Doing a 61 degree swim "cold", that is without acclimitizing to the water temp for a few weeks, or at least one or two swims is a little nutz, but you probably won't die. But you might. I've done 52 degree swims in january off San Diego but the air temp was pretty warm and Im a bit crazy that way.

If you do it without the wetsuit, start taking cold showers in the morning. I'm 100% serious it will help you. I started taking cold showers before competing in Escape from Alcatraz and had no trouble with the cold temps ( i did wear a wetsuit, but it was much warmer than other warmer swims in the same wetsuit).
2012-02-12 10:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold
It's all relative.  61 degrees sounds fantastically warm to me right now.  At that temp, I'd be tempted to get a cheap shorty wetsuit that allows good arm motion and just go with that if you don't want to drop the bucks for a full wetsuit.  That should give you some thermal relief.
2012-02-12 11:21 AM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold
61F is pretty cold. If its only a 750 meter swim try the cold shower tips for a week before. If you get a wetsuit be sure to get one thats big enough as they are constricting, a wetsuit may improve your time and will offer bouyence for safety. Use it in a pool first and rinse it off good. A thermal cap keeps lots of heat in and many cold water swimmers in San Fransisco only use these with no wetsuit for long bay swims.

http://www.south-end.org San Fransisco bay swimmers 55 F no wetsuits all year round.

http://www.dolphinclub.org

warm open water swim caps

http://openwatercaps.blogspot.com You will have to use the issued race cap over these.
2012-02-12 2:38 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming in the cold
I've tried swimming in Barton Springs in Austin.  It's about 68 degrees.  It does seem like I stiffen up a little and swim slower.  The therapy pool I work out in is in the high 80's.  I seem to go slower in it as well.  Mid to high 70's is the best for me.  I'm sure everyone's a little different.
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