Training to 8-miles in cold water

I can see that the SPM training is a good way to build your speed over longer distances. However, in your actual swim…out in the elements…SPM ‘could’ end up being inaccurate, or a misnomer, if/when you’re swimming against even a lite wind. In other words, after a ## strokes you won’t have gone as far against the wind as you would have in its absence. Just about all my open water swimming is at sea level, in the brine. And I will say that just about ALWAYS, when I turn to swim against the wind, even slight winds, my pace drops off noticeably. It’s obvious on my Strava entry. Even on the half-mile loop I have round a mooring field at my neighborhood beach…you can see my pace drop off on every lap when I’m going against the wind. Secondly, your leg training. I mean in addition to swimming, I’m a cyclist and a bit of a runner too. So if you’re adding the leg regime just to vary your cardio training…I get that. But WRT to actual swimming…are you kicking that much? Why? Limit your kick to maintaining good body position, and reserve that energy for your stroke. The neoprene of the wetsuit legs will help with that too. Regarding your body core temperature…I have friends here in Rhode Island that swim in the open water through the winter. Plus/minus 1-hour swims in water temps in the high 30s°F. In addition to their wetsuits, they wear neoprene gloves, booties, and a neoprene hood. Since you plan to wear a wetsuit in your actual swim…and thereby couldn’t be considered for recording by the MSF which doesn’t permit ANY neoprene…you might consider adding those items to help maintain a warmer core temp. — Dan

Thanks for the information. 

The reservoir i swim in has no internet service so I'm trying to figure out something to maintain my focus. Totally agree that choppy water will effect the accuracy. I'm adhd and even a mile swim challenges my focus. 

I rely on my legs quite a bit for propulsion. I've had 3 shoulder surgeries. One left and two right.if I don't maintain a 6 beat kick, I may swim backwards. LOL the farthest I've swam is 11 miles maintaining that kick. May be from growing up as a runner. 

The reservoir is covered in two feet of ice and snow during the winter. With outside temps dropping to as low as -40 degrees, swimming outside is suicide. Not to mention that the access points are impassable because of the feet of snow. 

I will definitely look into a hood and gloves for my swim. I've never used a wetsuit, should be interesting. 

Chris

Oh. In your OP you mentioned that you did use a wetsuit in previous swims. Not sure what you mean by internet service WRT to maintaining focus. At any rate…doing cold water plunges through the winter may help with acclimating. Yikes on the shoulder surgeries. I’ve had one for a torn rotator cuff. Recovery from them is terrible. — Dan

In my original post I said "This next swim will be with a 3mil wetsuit, cap and smart goggles." It was one of the lessons I learned from swimming in cold water in a swimsuit. LOL

I believe the STRAVA app requires cell service (internet) to utilize. I'd be interested in using the app for other swims. What do you like/dislike about it?

My smart goggles won't give me much information apart from SPM unless I'm swimming in a pool, then they can give all kinds of information.

Amen on the recovery from surgeries ... they suck! I had both shoulders fixed 20 years ago, and the right one fixed again (torn labrum) 5 years ago. Hoping I'm done with surgeries. 

Thanks for the communications.

Chris

06KWC said:

I believe the STRAVA app requires cell service (internet) to utilize. I'd be interested in using the app for other swims. What do you like/dislike about it?

Strava and other fitness tracking, and navigation apps on cell phones use GPS (and cell if/when available). There are certain aspects of Strava that require cell connectivity…such as sending the Strava Beacon txt. But if you have your cell phone with you on the swim, it will track your movements using GPS (all cell phones have a GPS receiver built in). And of course if you’re using a fitness device, it can connect to the phone via Bluetooth…either during the activity (if you have the phone with you), or after the activity once the phone is back on your person (if you have the GPS device paired with the phone). Strava probably isn’t a great app for swimming. I use it this way: I have an old, basic Garmin GPS watch that was developed simply as a running watch, the Forerunner 25(now discontinued). Since it was developed as running watch it doesn’t work in the water very well. It’s waterproof, but its software looses satellite connectivity when it plunges into the water. SO…I strap it to the top of the inflatable safety buoy that I pull. It stays above the water, and GPS connected. Then, back at the house, I upload the activity from the watch to my Strava account. But I don’t get any stats other than a map/route, distance, time, and pace (Strava then estimates SPM but it isn’t accurate). There are fitness watches available that are developed specifically for swimming (o/w and pool) that have all those bells and whistles. But I just don’t need all that for my personal use.

Dan

Thanks for the information. It's always difficult with where I swim. My phone has zero service. It's a beautiful swim though. 

Chris

Thanks for the information. It's always difficult with where I swim. My phone has zero service. It's a beautiful swim though. 

Chris