Hi,
We are planning an article on the "winter blues" for the Nov. / Dec. issue of SWIMMER. I've got some ideas for a way to take a fresh look at the subject, but I'd love to hear from our member swimmers who may have issues with the low light and cold temperatures of winter.
Does it affect your training? Have you found a way to beat it? (Florida and So.Cal folks, I realize this is less than applicable to you, but friends in Nebraska and New York and Alaska, or any other state with seasons, please weigh in!)
Thanks for your time and insights. Please feel free to message me privately.
Sincerely,
Laura
Former Member
Slight thread hijack here... :hijack:
I also swim outdoors year-round and had trouble staying warm in the winter. Then I started wearing a neoprene cap like this one:
www.swimoutlet.com/.../4854.htm
It makes a HUGE difference in being able to make it through a practice. I wear it under my silicone cap.
End of hijack... :hijack: Back to the previous discussion...
Ditto. Swimming in Arizona in the winter can be tough. All of the pools where I swim are outdoors, and I always wet my hair before I get in.
For me the trick is to go every day. That way I don't even think about the cold. Wake up - go to the pool - wet my hair - put on my parka - scurry out to the pool deck - shed the parka - haul a$$ to the edge of the pool - jump in - swim - feel happy - shower - get ready for the day. It's just what I do.
Similar issues here in northern California. I don't know of any indoor pools in my area at all. The outdoor pools are heated, but you still have to get in and get out, in weather in the 40s (occasionally 30s), often raining and windy. For a long time my swimming would radically fall off in the winter because I couldn't hack it. Then I got myself a warm swim parka to huddle in until the very last second, and paid attention to all the swimmers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s who were going in rain or shine. Between those two things I manage to get myself in the pool, but some days it is still tough.
These are great responses! Thanks everyone for sharing. Obviously there are common themes, but everyone has an interesting tidbit to add.
I'm heading to Florida for USMS annual planning next week, but please keep the resposnes coming. I'm going to try and weave everything mentioned into my article. I'll contact those of you with particularly quotable quotes....
Thank you so much.
L.J.
I regard swim training through the winter as easy. Getting to the pool and getting home here in the Upper Left Corner is exponentially harder, especially in January when it's cold, dark, windy, and raining all the time and everyone has turned off their Christmas lights.
I thought the same thing. Part of the winter blahs and blues comes from being indoors for extended periods with a 4:30pm sunset in most parts. (Daylight savings really stinks by the way.)
As mentioned, Vitamin D and exercise can do wonders for the winter doldrums. Especially if your sport has a hint of summer in it.
And nothing beats stretching out a sore back (from snow shoveling) like a dip in the pool.
