Hello fishies :agree:
I am considering going to the Lake Mead 10k OW championships in Vegas but am worried about the water temp. I don't have much natural insulation :P the website says it's about 74 degrees.
Have others done this race? Do you get cold?
Would a full bodysuit (wetsuits are not allowed, but I was thinking of getting a Fastskin sort of suit) aid in warmth? How else can you keep yourself warm?
I've done almost all of my OW swimming in a lake in Maine that I think is probably about 74* and I tend to get chilled around the 2 hr mark, so this water temp/this distance are worrying me... but I would like to do it.
No pools around here are that cold, so I can't test my tolerance to it... unless anyone has some other ideas about how to test it...
tc
I would have thought most lakes in Maine would be generally colder than 74F. Is this just a guess or did you measure the temperatures?
As for dealing with colder water, the best method is to acclimate by training in cold water. A non-wetsuit full body swimsuit doesn’t really keep you warmer during your swim, but it helps a little pre-race on windy days. You will get a little warming with a dark suit on a sunny day. Otherwise, the best way to stay warm is to burn calories by swimming vigorously and if possible kick a little harder (I’ve found that working the larger leg muscles helps some people feel warmer).
Everyone reacts differently to cold water and it isn’t just about body fat, so be careful about the the advice you take. For example, for me 74F is not cold, 54F is cold but bearable for a couple of hours, albeit I do have plenty of natural insulation.
You mentioned you get chilled around the 2 hour mark; chilled meaning feeling cold or shivering uncontrollably? Are you taking any breaks or swimming at race pace? Are you feeding during these swims? What did you eat pre-swim? Was your body warmed-up before starting the swim? What is the air temp and time of day? There are lots of factors to consider.
So with all these caveats, my suggestion is to train for the distance and get to the venue a day or 2 early to train in the lake (and hit Vegas), then pre-race eat a warming meal (I like pre-race oatmeal) and stay warm. Then have fun in the swim!
I would have thought most lakes in Maine would be generally colder than 74F. Is this just a guess or did you measure the temperatures?
As for dealing with colder water, the best method is to acclimate by training in cold water. A non-wetsuit full body swimsuit doesn’t really keep you warmer during your swim, but it helps a little pre-race on windy days. You will get a little warming with a dark suit on a sunny day. Otherwise, the best way to stay warm is to burn calories by swimming vigorously and if possible kick a little harder (I’ve found that working the larger leg muscles helps some people feel warmer).
Everyone reacts differently to cold water and it isn’t just about body fat, so be careful about the the advice you take. For example, for me 74F is not cold, 54F is cold but bearable for a couple of hours, albeit I do have plenty of natural insulation.
You mentioned you get chilled around the 2 hour mark; chilled meaning feeling cold or shivering uncontrollably? Are you taking any breaks or swimming at race pace? Are you feeding during these swims? What did you eat pre-swim? Was your body warmed-up before starting the swim? What is the air temp and time of day? There are lots of factors to consider.
So with all these caveats, my suggestion is to train for the distance and get to the venue a day or 2 early to train in the lake (and hit Vegas), then pre-race eat a warming meal (I like pre-race oatmeal) and stay warm. Then have fun in the swim!
