Cold Water Swim

I would suspect you could google the probable water temp up at the park or email the director/organizer and ask.

I usually start in Boston swimming at about 50-55 degree water.

If you have very low body fat and get cold very easy you will probably want booties and a head cover and maybe gloves, to be safe.

I swim with 2 silicone swim caps and my full wet suit, nothing else. my face and hands and feet feel freezing and numb to start, but after a couple minutes then they must either acclimate or get so numb I don't notice!  I don't ever recall finishing a swim like that and still feeling cold- just acclimated I guess.

Pee in it, it will warm you up

are your panicky feelings are from the open water itself or from being whacked and kicked by a hundred people all splashing around you?  If the latter, work on staying at the edge of the pack and trust yourself that no matter what awkward combination of messy strokes you use that you will stay afloat.  try to maintain a constant rhythm even if its really slow and expect that people will run into you.

Try to get in the water and get your FACE into the water before the race start.  I've heard that the cold water panic is partly due to all those blood vessels in your face constricting suddenly.  Not sure if that's accurate, but give it a whirl.

Also, two swim caps.  helps a bunch.

Mister Mike,

My name is Rick, I am in charge of the lifeguards for this race.  I would recommend getting a neoprene cap.  You could wear a hood, booties and gloves.  Peeing in your suit will warm you a little as well. 

As far as your panic in OWS.  The swim coach is extremely helpful.  He will go over the water conditions.

Feel free to find me at the race if you are feeling a little anxious before hand.

Most important thing is to know your limits and if you need help wave down a guard.  We will be set up every .1 miles of the race. 

Thanks Rick I will drop you a PM.

X2 on the neoprene cap.  Most of your heat loss comes from the head.

I'm gonna dispel the peeing warms you up myth though.  It may feel good in the moment, but all that will do is cause your skin pores to open up with the warmth.  Once the cold water hits them it sill just make it worse.

Not that I don't pee in my wetsuit.  But I pee because I have to pee, not to make me warmer

When your body gets cold it regulates core temperature by sending blood to your core. This excess core fluid triggers a response in your bladder telling your body, "too much liquid....get rid of some." That's why you feel like peeing.

However, peeing in your wetsuit has two counter productive effects. First, it expels 98.7* liquid from your body. You want that warmth inside, not out where it will disapate very quickly. Secondly, the fluid loss from urine is replaced by the body pulling liquid from the extremeties....causing hands and feet to get even colder, brrrrrrr!

So resist the urge to pee unless absolutely necessary. Just get some booties and a neoprene cap if you're concerned about warmth.

I swim in the San Francisco Bay year round and the cold never ceases to literally take my breath away when I first get in.  The cold water on my face is bordeline painful......BUT.......it all goes away in a minute or 2 and once acclimated I don't feel it any more.  I am always comfortable with time and it is actually refreshing, I end up happy I got in the water every time.

Be sure you splash around prior to the race start and get your face acclimated and you should be fine.  Remember the anxiety for any race swim only lasts the first few minutes until you swim through it and settle into your pace.  Then enjoy yourself.

As for peeing......gross.  I gotta swim in the water too ya know.  Use the toilet before you get in the water!