After a horrid heat wave, our weather in NJ is now in the 60's, rainy, cloudy and miserable. The outdoor pool I swim in is 68 degrees! I don't own a wetsuit. Any advice on swimming outside in this cold water? I usually swim 4000 yards so by about 1000 yards, my bones and muscles start to chill. I do prefer cooler water temps - in the mid 70's, but this is tough, since the air temp is so cool. The air temperature is supposed to go up to 90 in two days, which should raise water to about 70-72. Thanks for any advice!
Former Member
Our outdoor pool decided to close at 6 because nobody showed up for open swim. Needless to say I was not happy at 6:30 when I had to go inside to the 25Y pool, which was mobbed. Trying to swim 7x500's is a real burden in there...I lost count and got dizzy from all the flipturns...
PLUS it was cold and I wanted a cold swim to get used to the feel for OW.
the pool opens in May for the high school swim team (they wear wet suits), and to the public on Memorial Day. The pool closes on Labor Day. As luck would have it--we generally have another 2-3 weeks of VERY warm weather where an outdoor pool would be welcome.
Isn't that the truth? Here we are freezing, and once our outdoor unheated pools close, we will have weeks of "Indian" summer--hot, humid and hazy days where we are forced to swim indoors in overheated indoor pools.
The pool is scheduled to be replaced in about 1-2 years. It is an aluminum pool and has outlived its' expected lifetime. More than likely--the next pool will be heated. All that means is that when the community starts swimming on Memorial Day--the pool will be warm. What we're hoping is that the little blue-haired ladies don't start complaining that the pool is "too cold" and the operators then zoom the temp up to the high 80s. It's one thing to swim in the high 80s due to NATURAL heating vs someone playing with the thermostat!
Don't get me started on this! Those little old ladies control every college/YMCA/gym I have ever swam in over the last 20 years! I start out in a pool where the temp is 78-80 max, and somehow it ends up with the heat cranked up to 85 and the water 82-83. It is horrific to really push iunder such conditions. Yet put me outside in 82 degree water and I'm ok under the blue sky, clear air and gentle breezes. No comparison. If I were rich, I would open a workout pool that was never above 78! I paid good money to join a gym - my contract states the lap pool is to be maintained at 78. There is a therapy pool and a hot tub. The "Aqua" classes are supposed to be in the therapy pool but many of the seniors say it is too hot, so they use the lap pool, then complain it's too cold! What does management do? Crank up the temp in the lap pool! I've been disputing this for years - finally, thanks to Masters Swim members, they've at least compromised with 80 - one less degree and it would be optimal. IMO, 80 is too hot indoors with the heater at full blast.
I have a wetsuit (sleeveless) and use it any time the temp drops below 78. I hate being cold. I've swam in 90+ and prefer it. I don't like the feeling I'm sweating in the water, but I don't have to get in the whirlpool or sauna to stop shivering.
I grow up in the south and have never gotten climatized to cool/cold weather/temps.
I second the "move" idea.
The outdoor 50 m pool I swim in is heated, but they put covers on at night. I'm sure the initial cost outlay to cover a 50 meter by 20 or 25 yard pool is substantial, but I bet they pay for themselves in no time. Especially around here where nighttime lows are typically in the mid 50s even in the middle of the summer.
The pool is only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day (with one extra bonus weekend after Labor Day). The weather is usually good in September, but I suspect staffing becomes a problem. I wish they could keep it open for weekends only a few weeks longer, though, but I'll take what I can get. I'm always sad to see the pool close each year :(
I am in New Jersey. It is really cold. Outdoor pools probably will not warm up after the cold now. Most close in another week or 2. Also, most of the indoor pools that I know are closed for their yearly renovations.
I'm feeling quite lucky! Our outdoor 50 m pool is heated so it isn't too bad though did get cold with the cool days last weekend/early this week. Our Y also has 2 indoor pools open during the summer. One is kept cool for lap swimming and the other is at about 86 degrees for the blue haired ladies! So, its pretty much the best of all worlds. Definitely feeling quite lucky.
The outdoor pool I swim in is not heated. Mighty cold in June, and awful hot just a few weeks ago. Last week it was finally getting back down to the low 80's and was pleasant. Last night was in the 50's, so todays swim might be brisk. It closes Labor Day, so back in doors after that.
