Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

WPSWIMS — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:48:39 GMT

Cream Puff...would love for you to stay here and train! I do not do open water, but I could cheer you on or learn how to kayak!

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:54:49 GMT

Creampuff, what was the water temp of the 25 Km swim you did last year? It has been a said by a number of us, cool to cold water swimmers, that our bodies remember the cold water from one year to the next. Like, when I was swimming in waters that had snow melting into them that was very uncomfortable and my body does not want to experience that again. But any temp above 49 degrees I can swim in for a long period of time, say an hour or more. It may actually take longer for my body to warm up than the actual swim, but that is another story. At 60 degrees and above I can swim for up to 14 hours. So,if the temp of the 25 Km swim of last year was 72 degrees or less you may want to info Joe of that. But you are correct he is doing his just being a good meet director.:) The water for the 25K was in the 80s and the outside temps got into the low 90s. It was unusually HOT for Indiana according to the locals. I had no issues with the heat (and in fact, several OW's I've done have been under very hot conditions according to the participants and race directors). If I recall, several people on the 25K had some heat issues. Anything under about 75 would be new to me. That's what I get for being stationed in the south. The *only* thing I can add is that I used to run outdoors (5 to 10 miles) in the snow, ice and rain (I used to run every day rain or shine for a few years) in temps that were in the teens - was actually the most fun if I recall. Again, I was fine b/c I ALWAYS kept moving at a nice clip. I remember having policemen stop me in winter storms to make sure I was okay! However, I know that does not translate into cold water swimming! It takes an act of god for me to stop moving during exercise, so I think I'd be okay but never hurts to test it out for shorter distances first.

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Animal — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:01:42 GMT

The water temp at Horsetooth will likely be around 70 degrees, the air temp can be anywhere from 65 to 95 degrees. May this be of help.

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:39:09 GMT

The meet director is practicing due diligence, but doesn't know you! Cold showers, sitting in tubs of ice... :D Sounds like fun - NOT! LOL! True dat regarding meet director decision. I totally understand!

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

ViveBene — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:22:43 GMT

The meet director is practicing due diligence, but doesn't know you! Cold showers, sitting in tubs of ice... :D

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

ViveBene — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:25:38 GMT

Animal - so totally! Coldest water I ever set foot in had been glacier until a few moments before. CreamPuff, remember the sun block - you'll be closer to the sun, and it does matter - and have a great swim! (Does the Channel stir no thoughts? Little imaginings and what-if faeries whispering in your ear?) :)

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Animal — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:55:37 GMT

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:28:47 GMT

Just curious, if you wear those neoprene, wetsuity techsuits in OW, do they count as wetsuits???? what's their policy for this race? I know they're illegal for most other "cold" water swims. Creampuff, pack a thermos of hot liquid with your kayaker and it'll keep you warm

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:05:49 GMT

No wetsuits or wetsuit type material allowed. They try and follow English Channel rules. Will be SURE and do some shorter cold water swims first. Should be interesting. Thanks Vive for all the links! Good to know there are some short cold ones out there!

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

ViveBene — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:58:48 GMT

... I really want to do this race due to the beautiful location and the crazy altitude and temps (and I WILL in the future - perhaps 2010!?) but I think I had better plan a bit more for it. The race director had serious reservations about my doing it due to my 0 cold water experience. I do not blame him at all as I'm sure he feels responsible for any swimmer out there. And I'll admit I'm a bit wack. I did decide to do the 25K OW swim literally 1 to 2 months before the actual race. Although that happened to pan out, I think I could have hurt myself! I'm just too addicted to endorphins. I'll accede that 67 - 69 deg F *might* fall in the range of "cold water swimming," bec. I have seen the difference between my own tolerance (in grimly every day) and my swim buds' (less frequent, do not swim as far when they consider water cold). Sometimes it is a matter of only a degree or two making the difference of still comfortable for me, not so for them. I do not have the slightest idea how these adaptions to cold water occur, but on the off-chance you could hurry them up, a couple more longish swims precede Horsetooth (and you are not obliged to swim 10k at Horsetooth). I'd suggest a long vacation out West: State Games of the West, 1.5k to 6k, plus Colorado OW Championship swim, Prospect Lake, Memorial Park, Colorado Springs, CO, Sunday, Aug. 2 www.thesportscorp.org/.../index.html Deer Creek Open Water Swim, Deer Creek Reservoir, southwest of Heber City, UT, 1 mile, 5 k, 10k, and 10 miles, sanctioned by Utah Masters, Saturday, August 15: deercreekopenwater.home.comcast.net/.../ Horsetooth Open Water: Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins, CO, Sunday, Aug. 16, 1,000 yds to 10k, USMS and USS sanctioned: http://www.horsetoothswim.com/ Are you doing the Kingdom swim, in Vermont? :)

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Animal — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:02:45 GMT

As fast as Creampuff is, I would bet that she will generate enough heat to stay warm. The hot drink idea is a sound one. There is one swimmer at Horsetooth who feeds on Payday bars. His kayaker gives him an unwrapped one, he dunks it in the water and eats. The water is clean in Horsetooth, but that is not my idea of feeding. He does well. He has swam it 6 times and is always in the 3 hour and 30 minute range.

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:38:56 GMT

Wow! Animal you are so unbelievably kind to offer that!!! I would not allow you to mess up your race to make sure I was okay, but I really appreciate the offer! You are :angel:. Swimmers really are the best people on the face of the planet. :):) And thank you for the feedback Airless. Very helpful. I think if Animal attempted the English Channel that I would be the one holding him up during an OW race. Animal, you tried the English Channel??? That's very brave of you. What were the most challenging things about that swim in addition to the cold? Were you hypothermic? I'm guessing that Horsetooth is going to be a nice walk in the park for you! I really want to do this race due to the beautiful location and the crazy altitude and temps (and I WILL in the future - perhaps 2010!?) but I think I had better plan a bit more for it. The race director had serious reservations about my doing it due to my 0 cold water experience. I do not blame him at all as I'm sure he feels responsible for any swimmer out there. And I'll admit I'm a bit wack. I did decide to do the 25K OW swim literally 1 to 2 months before the actual race. Although that happened to pan out, I think I could have hurt myself! I'm just too addicted to endorphins.

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:33:05 GMT

Jeff -- Creampuff is way faster than you. YOU won't be able to keep up. :agree:

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:31:23 GMT

I did the 10k in 2006 and worried about the cold for 6 months. I'm not sure what the temperature was but I was cold for 3 miles until the sun came out and then I was perfectly fine. I didn't even need to sit in the ambulance afterwards! It's a well-run, friendly and low key race. I hope you like it!

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Animal — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:36:57 GMT

It is warm here along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. Today it has hit 93 degrees so far. So the water in Horsetooth should be hitting almost 70 degrees. As long as you are moving you will generate enough body heat to keep warm. As a last resort, if you are too cold then get out, sun yourself along the rocks and have your kayaker throw you a sweatshirt and get warm. If you want I will swim along side of you to make sure you are okay. If I can keep up. I spent 14 hours on an English Channel attempt and it was the lack of moving that made me get out. I could not generate enough body heat. :)

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:44:09 GMT

You have "attitude" training, and that's what counts! (Plus a few thousand miles in the pool and a heroic 25k ...) I hope you go and enjoy the beauty, etc., although I understand Georgia has its charms. :D LOL! Well, the race director reviewed my credentials and very reluctantly and with reservation approved me with the comment that Dive Rescue would be better served handling other emergencies over my possible hypothermia. Can't say I disagree and I can't say that really sold me on the swim.

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:58:54 GMT

So. . . I'm guessing that if I don't have altitude training and cold water temp training that I can't just throw on a B70, try and have any decent shot at finishing it?

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

ViveBene — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:47:22 GMT

So. . . I'm guessing that if I don't have altitude training and cold water temp training that I can't just throw on a B70, try and have any decent shot at finishing it? You have "attitude" training, and that's what counts! (Plus a few thousand miles in the pool and a heroic 25k ...) I hope you go and enjoy the beauty, etc., although I understand Georgia has its charms. :D

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Kurt Dickson — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:33:58 GMT

So. . . I'm guessing that if I don't have altitude training and cold water temp training that I can't just throw on a B70, try and have any decent shot at finishing it? They had this as the national championship in 2006. I believe everybody finished. I did not train altitude or for cold (not like 68 is that cold). I'm certain you will be fine (possibly a little slower than expected).

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Former Member — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:33:57 GMT

I was seriously considering this event; however, after looking at the event site, I'm very concerned about the cold water temp. Not sure how I could acclimate as I'm here in the south.

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Animal — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:45:35 GMT

This is a great swim. The 10 K is a no turn event. You swim from the south end of the res to the North end. The views from the water are great. It will be my 5th time swimming it and each one has been and wonder of an experience. The people who run it do a great job. :applaud:

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Kurt Dickson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:01:47 GMT

Fun, well-run swim; I would worry more about the altitude and less about the temp.:)

RE: Horsetooth Open Water Swim - 2009

Animal — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:13:57 GMT

Last year the water temp was 70 degrees. In 2007 water temp was 68 degrees. I would think that this year's temp would be about the same.