Is your pool too hot !

Gareth, Not sure about following your thought about sweating into the water as a cooling mechanism for the body. My understanding (once agin could be wrong) is that when sweat evaporates off of the skin that is where the cooling takes place. Now sweat in water wouldn't evaporate but would be absorbed (could be a better term for it) so no cooling would really be taking place regardless of how warm or cold the water is. The cooling effect by water would be more of a conduction process. I think the issue of uncomfortable versus harmful is a little blown out of proportion. When the air temp is in the mid 80's you don't see health warnings in regards to exercise (usually that is reserved for 90's). Also don't forget about waters ability to absorb more heat than air so even 85 water is till going to absorb your bodies heat quicker than 85 air (thats why a person in 40 degree water may only last 1/2 hour at best even with physical activity while someone could exercise on land for an hour or two without any ill side effects). Pool temp is real personal, look at how many people have posted the range they like to work out in (even a 70 degree which most would find too cold) to each their own.

I agree. I'm one of the few that likes it a little warmer. I did too many swim meets as a kid at 78 and below and when I couldn't down a warmdown during the meet I had trouble breathing. And I'm never been thin as a swimmer. And as an adult I'm overweight.

Yes we have sub optimal workouts and races because of warmer water. For the most part nobody is going to argue that point but it's a far different point than saying it's dangerous. If it is indeed dangerous and if the high water temps are as common as it would seem by reading these posts then wouldn't there be a high instance of heat related injuries? I'm pretty sure the runners are laughing at us right now.

I quit fighting City Hall on this issue many years ago. I have resigned myself to swimming in bathtub temperatures and simply bring a bar of soap, and some of my great go fast shampoo to practice and make lemon aid out of lemons.... All kidding aside, some of you heart specialists out there, please jump in here, because, from what I have read over the years it can be extremely dangerous swimming high intensity workouts in pool temperatures like we often see in Masters Swimming.

I have a confession to make...I feel bad about making so much fun of the water aerobics people. That wasn't very nice at all--and I apologize for being offensive.

If we are to fight the demands of some to raise pool temperatures then we do need objective scientific research on the dangers of excercising in hot water. The Non swimmers in the pool have the option of moving about a bit harder or wearing an extra layer of clothes to keep warm. Masters swimmers cannot wear less clothes ! We also need to perform excercise at an elevated level for a period of time to train our energy systems. The aerobic level, anaerobic and Lactic acid sets to perform up to our potential in swim meets. These demmands raise our ' core body temp', we are sweating and working hard in the pool. Having to hose down swimmers in the pool is crazy and management and the aerobics crowd should be embarrased to see that happen. I guess that I was hoping that someone would know of research online on this topic that i could use for info on my fight. Unfortunately the US " swim " magazine I don't have a copy of , and the article is not available online. Is there a reference to research there that I could look up or do any doctors have info ?

Either too hot or too cold.

I'm sure the runners are laughing at us right now....but they NEVER laugh at us at the start of a tri (in the swim part).... and they weren't laughing in the middle of San Francisco Bay either....SAID WITH A BIG SMILE!

For those across the pond (and anyone else who has not seen the July/Aug SWIM issue: Core temp, the temp of the deeper tissues of the body, can survive 10C degree drop but only a 5Cdegree elevation. Fatigue sets in at 38-40C (100.4-104F), and optimal for performance is slightly raised core temp. Water absorbs 1000x more heat than air, hence the difference between 80 degree water and deck temps. Swimming a fast crawl, say the authors, can increase core temp .5-.9 degrees F every 5-7 minutes, which offsets the cooling action of the water. As to evaporation effects in water: evaporation of perspiration IS what cools us in air, but water is 100% humid so we do not benefit from evaporation but still lose fluids thru skin and airways. In warm water, as core temp rises 1F/10 minutes (approx), swimmer will fell overheated, fatigued, then HR increases. Heart has to work harder ....swimmer has to slow down because in the end enough oxygen does not get to the muscles. They say that the brain may even enhance the fatigue feelings as a protective mechanism. That is paraphrased from the article by Jessica Seaton and James Acker. They also include this from the "Swimming Pool Operators and Owners Resource Pages": Max temp for swimming, diving, fitness swimming and training:80.6F (27C) Max temp for rec, adult teaching, conventional main pools:82.4F(28C) Max temp for children's swim lessons and leisure pools:84.2F(29C) Max temp for babies, young children, disabled and handicapped people:86.0F (30C) Hopefully this can help!

Jdut Thank you, thank you , thank you ! That info was just what I was looking for. I love this forum, it really is the best ! This will be decided next week, i will let you know the result. Thanks Gareth.