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Keeping warm in cold IM swim
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 2009-05-28 7:54 AM |
Expert  783    Spokane, Washington |  Subject: Keeping warm in cold IM swimShort story: Know someone with bad shoulder issues who signed up for IM before knowing. Swim won't make the issue worse and they can physically swim the distance, but the person can't swim 'hard', or at least not hard enough to keep warm in cold water. This is for IMCDA, water is about 54 F right now. It will be warmer on race day, but the issue will still be there. He's already using a neo cap and booties. Any tips for keeping warmer under these conditions for ~2 hours in cold water? Thanks! Edited by c_cic 2009-05-28 7:56 AM |
| 2009-05-28 8:41 AM in reply to: #2177668 |
Expert 1006 Kansas City, MO | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim I did IMCDA last year and I think the water temp ended up being 58-59 degrees. One tip I got and found useful was a couple minutes before the start get in the water to loosen up and pull out the wetsuit area around the neck and let some water in, then get out and get ready for the start. The water they let in will get warmed up by their body and add another layer of insulation for them once the race starts.It was cold last year as well but they will have a ton of adrenaline going at the start and I am sure my heart was beating 30-40 beats faster moving blood everywhere in my body. They should be fine. Good Luck |
| 2009-05-28 9:07 AM in reply to: #2177668 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim Tell him to drink A LOT OF WATER before the start... then he can pee in his wetsuit. Warm and toasty.  Yes, I have done this many times SCUBA diving. It's gross, but dang when you are cold it's so warm. |
| 2009-05-28 9:22 AM in reply to: #2177873 |
Expert 670 Bucks County | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim KSH - 2009-05-28 9:07 AM Tell him to drink A LOT OF WATER before the start... then he can pee in his wetsuit. Warm and toasty. Yes, I have done this many times SCUBA diving. It's gross, but dang when you are cold it's so warm. +1 sorry folks behind me but it works |
| 2009-05-28 11:18 AM in reply to: #2177668 |
| Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim Peeing in your wetsuit will make you feel imemdiately warmer, but over the long term it will actually make things worse (1000+ dives experience) Most of heat loss (I think 70% or so, but I might be wrong on the specific number) is lost through the head, so a hoodie is vital. |
| 2009-05-28 11:43 AM in reply to: #2177668 |
Champion 7546 Albuquerque, New Mexico Bronze member | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim Starting warm is probably the first step towards keeping warm. A decent warm-up and maybe a hot cup of coffee/tea/cocoa prior to the start? Consider a couple of disposable handwarmers inside the wetsuit, along the back, near the kidneys? (I haven't tried either since CdA will be my first long, cold, swim. ) |
| 2009-05-28 12:26 PM in reply to: #2177668 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim c_cic - 2009-05-28 8:54 AM Short story: Know someone with bad shoulder issues who signed up for IM before knowing. Swim won't make the issue worse and they can physically swim the distance, but the person can't swim 'hard', or at least not hard enough to keep warm in cold water. This is for IMCDA, water is about 54 F right now. It will be warmer on race day, but the issue will still be there. He's already using a neo cap and booties. Any tips for keeping warmer under these conditions for ~2 hours in cold water? Thanks! With a full wetsuit, neoprene cap & booties, it's only the person's hands & face that will be any issue at all (and swimming harder wouldn't help those extremities other than getting them out of the water faster). Try earplugs which seems to help. Some people think Vasoline in the hands and face also acts as some insulation (not sure how effective it is, but might help mentally at any rate). |
| 2009-05-28 1:52 PM in reply to: #2178442 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim ChrisM - 2009-05-28 11:18 AM Peeing in your wetsuit will make you feel imemdiately warmer, but over the long term it will actually make things worse (1000+ dives experience) Most of heat loss (I think 70% or so, but I might be wrong on the specific number) is lost through the head, so a hoodie is vital. How does it make things worse? I'm not really sure I understand how it makes things worse. ??? |
| 2009-05-28 4:17 PM in reply to: #2179043 |
Champion 7546 Albuquerque, New Mexico Bronze member | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim KSH - 2009-05-28 1:52 PM ChrisM - 2009-05-28 11:18 AM Peeing in your wetsuit will make you feel imemdiately warmer, but over the long term it will actually make things worse (1000+ dives experience) How does it make things worse? I'm not really sure I understand how it makes things worse. ??? Most of heat loss (I think 70% or so, but I might be wrong on the specific number) is lost through the head, so a hoodie is vital. The heat loss from excreting the 98.6F fluid that will eventually be flushed out of the wetsuit. |
| 2009-05-29 7:22 AM in reply to: #2177668 |
Expert 783 Spokane, Washington | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim It's not the hands and face that are the problem so much, it's just being in the cold water and having it leach the heat out of your body. Along the idea of starting warm, I had also heard to pour warm water in your suit before the swim instead of using the cold lake water. Any more ideas? |
| 2009-05-29 7:58 AM in reply to: #2177668 |
| Regular 66 avon, montana | Subject: RE: Keeping warm in cold IM swim I did CDA and used a $20 full scuba hood plus booties and SEAL mask PLUS poured hot water into suit before entering the lake. Only hands, mouth and cheeks were exposed to the water. I was toasty warm, relaxed and comfy while everybody else was sputtering and gasping and cold. Nuff said. |
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