75 degrees

Craigh: You must not be a cold water swimmer. I would think if the water was below 70, that you would want to go inside. This weekend I did a swim in Lake Michigan. Actually it was the National Championship 2.5 K and the water was 73 and I didn't hear from anyone after the race that they thought the water was to cold. Granted we were swimming continous and it was close to 80 duirng the race.

I'm embarrassed to admit even knowing you Gull. To be honest, I'd find 75 chilly myself. Some might find this humorous. At our pool, we have two pools inside, one "cool" pool kept at 80-81 for fitness/lap swimming only and one warm pool/indoor water park combo with 2 or 3 lap lanes kept at about 86-88. Last week, the warm pool was down to 85 for a few days allegedly and one of the q-tips that swims there actually wore a wetsuit. It was mortifying.

If the water temp had been below 70 they would have been carrying me inside. I've never been very cold tolerant. I actually found myself thinking about a wets---no, I can't even type the word. I have found that I need more of a warmup than I did when I was younger, otherwise I suck on the main set.

Anything under 80 for me is cool-I get tight and require a long fast warmup. 82-84 is perfect for swim meets. I swam in lake michigan and enjoyed it a few years ago- it had to have been in the low 70s to upper 60s. Maybe because it was a joy swim when it was 80 outside.

Saturday morning, due to some rain, the water temperature in the outdoor pool where I swim was 77. Ah PERFECT!! I had a real good workout, and it felt great.

I am with you Gull anything below 78 degress and you will not find my scrawny self in the water. I am old and no longer have to get into any cold water unless my childern go under twice and have no chance of surfacing. I get teased by everyone at the pool because they all know that I hate cold water. This thread will be emailed to all of them. As I have gotten older I have noticed when the pool is colder than normal (78 to 79) my body immeaditly picks up on it. Nothing seems to work correctly. All of my joints are stiff and my body is unable to generate enough heat to keep me warm. The couple of times I have tried to stay for the workout I got out at about 500 yards as I had no feel for the water and the old body was not getting any more fluid. It is not worth the misery to be cold, possibly hurt myself, and most important not have fun. Hey I will never be able to beat half of ya'll but I always try to have fun in the pool and being cold is not fun. The nice thing about being self coached you can get out anytime you are cold and come back another day. No one will know you did not finish your workout. Heck lets take that one step further. Upon using the toe thermometer if it is too cold I have been known to not even get in the pool. There is no shame in loosing the battle if you ultimatly win the war. Have a great day Paul

Believe me, I have the most body fat here because I'm overweight and I don't like temperatures under 80 degrees either. When I was a teenager and not overweight I hated meets where the temperature was low but you could not do a warmup during the meet to use to the water. A couple of meets I got DQ because I didn't have a chance to adjust to the water, and did some freestyle in a fly race because I was having trouble breathing.

If you're used to 83-35, then 80 feels cold. Even more so 75. My pool keeps it 83-85. When there are stretches when the heater is "broken" and it drops to 80 (and below) for a few days, the first day is chilly, but only when I first get in. Once I get going I get plenty warm. And I know I do a much better workout at 80. I can sustain a harder pace, don't have to breathe as hard, and I can do a longer workout. After the first day, 80 feels perfect each time I get in. Once they get the heater "fixed" and the temps go back to 84, it feels like I'm swimming in a hot tub. Last month I did my first open water swim. Water temp was 72. Air was about 60. It was a bit of a shock to get in at first, but after a few dozen strokes I never really noticed the water temp any more.

Anything over 80 and I am miserable after my warm-up. By the end of practice I am wasted. It is weird how differently our bodies react. I always get heckled by my friends when I throw on a spring suit to surf in water that is 65 degrees and below. Hook'em Blue

Originally posted by USMSarah Don't they keep (very fast) competition pools around 72 degrees? Not quite that cold. FINA rules specify competition pools be kept between 25°-28° C (77°-82° F).