Does anyone actually workout in the outdoor pool with these inhuman water temperatures of 90+? Last week it was 86, and I was so uncomfortable, cramping constantly, despite bananas, Vit 3 and tons of water. I've had to go indoors, which is killing me, since I suffer through winter, living for the summer, but this is brutal. I'm on the East coast. This week the air quality is bad, and heat index is in the triple digits as well. Should I tough it out and just accept that the workout will be quite poor? :doh:
Former Member
I'd really complain to the pool management about the temperature, but it probably wouldn't help much. But if you don't voice the concern, nothing may change.
There isn't much they can do other than put in the cold water hose, but it depends on what guards are on at the time, if you know what I mean.
If you can... move your practice to as early in the AM as possible. Also, talk to your pool manager about if/when they are adding water to the pool, and if they can do it overnight. (They have to be losing quite a bot to evaporation in those conditions.)
the pool opens at 10, which is early, but not early enough. No one is there to add water at night. It's an outdoor pool that serves more as the community (townhouse, home, condo) pool, with a lap lane (more like a rope) tossed in for a couple hours a day. we are low priority.
I *hate* warm/hot water too.
It's possible to die from heat exhaustion from swimming in hot water, so be careful, it was a good thing you posted.
You can take a cold shower after though, hopefully the tap water is a bit cooler. Another option is to freeze your water in a water bottle and use that bottle to cool you off (by drinking it, dumping it over you, whatever it takes).
That being said, find an AC'd indoor pool though if you can, so many pools are on google maps now. I did a search the other day, after getting fed up with my current pool, and discovered that two great indoor pools within a 10 min drive opened up recently, with waaaay more lap swimming hours.
Marksman, I really hate warm water too. One of the members was talking about a swimmer who died from swimming in water that was too warm, so the lifeguard was very agreeable to throwing the hose in the pool for me, but of course, it did next to nothing, except feel good when I reached the wall at the end of each lap where the hose was! I drink frozen juice diluted with water and drink constantly. There is an indoor pool that I belong to, but even that was terribly warm (83) this past week. I get more upset when the indoor pools don't control the temp in the summer - do they think that we can do serious workouts in that kind of temperature in the summer???? :bump:
83 isn't terribly warm. You can definitely get used to that. 90, on the other hand, will never be comfortable to workout in.
Yes, you're right, but in the indoor setting where they CAN control the temp, it just makes sense that a lap pool should not be 83 inside. It definitely felt a hundred times better than swimming outside. Still.......it's just annoying. And people still get in the 83 degree pool and complain it's cold!
Does anyone actually workout in the outdoor pool with these inhuman water temperatures of 90+? Last week it was 86, and I was so uncomfortable, cramping constantly, despite bananas, Vit 3 and tons of water. I've had to go indoors, which is killing me, since I suffer through winter, living for the summer, but this is brutal. I'm on the East coast. This week the air quality is bad, and heat index is in the triple digits as well. Should I tough it out and just accept that the workout will be quite poor? :doh:
Water can be cooled with an aerator. Our Y has several that they use at night. Here is a link to a company that makes one -
livingwatersaeration.com/
See, that's the problem. Anyone other than lap swimmers will complain. Most pools aren't solely used for lap swimming so there's some give and take involved. 83 is definitely better than 85 or 86, after all!
Right, but this facility has a therapy pool for hot water lovers, therapy, water aerobics classes, a hot tub and a LAP POOL, that was supposedly built purely for lap swimmers, and kept at a target temp of 78. Which is why I joined. Which is why I am annoyed at 83, whether it's better than 85 or 86, it's contrary to everything the members were told prior to joining.:bitching:
It's just going to suck. Our Y has the same issue and it's brutally painful. I think a push workout vs. an endurance workout is the way to go. Go hard and fast in short bursts with A LOT of rest (i.e., 10x25 on the 30, 10x50 on the minute, 10x100 on the 2 minute or faster, but all with a lazy couple laps and few minutes between the sets).
Hey Ande and Marksman, thanks for the info and tips. I know our university pool is quite cool, but unfortunately, it's quite a hike for me, and the hours aren't that great either. I have two colleges that are 15 mins from me, but the water temp (other than for swim meet season) is between 81-83 as well. I may bring that article to the GM at my fitness center. I know one of our attorney members has already alerted them to the swimmer who died while swimming in water that was too warm. When lap swimmers complain enough, they drop the temp for a week or two, then the noodlers and blue heads complain, and its back up to 83. It's a no win situation.
Does anyone actually workout in the outdoor pool with these inhuman water temperatures of 90+? Last week it was 86, and I was so uncomfortable, cramping constantly, despite bananas, Vit 3 and tons of water. I've had to go indoors, which is killing me, since I suffer through winter, living for the summer, but this is brutal. I'm on the East coast. This week the air quality is bad, and heat index is in the triple digits as well. Should I tough it out and just accept that the workout will be quite poor? :doh:
that sucks
many outdoor pools in TX use aerators, they shoot water up in the air and it cools as it falls back in the pool
Find another pool
No CAP
swim easy
Take breaks, even get out & take cool showers
do a few sprints
take longer breaks
bring ice water or frozen sport drinks to drink & douse
request pool managers do something
Request to have a running hose near your lane to cool where you rest or spray cool water on yourself