This is not intended to be another rant thread on the topic. There are more than enough of those here already.
Our pool director just jacked the pool temp up. He said he is responding to complaints from the aquarobic folks and because the local schools are bringing kids in for lessons. He said it was 82 today, but I don't believe it. It's usually between 80 - 82, and it was a whole bunch warmer today. We couldn't really work out at all, and ended up just going back and forth. I ditched my cap for the first time in maybe 6 months, but it didn't help. We all got overheated anyway.
Can anyone point me to a study about the hazards of a bunch of fat old dudes (and, of course, our much svelter dudettes) trying to go too hard in tepid spa water? Or any study relating to the dangers of overheating while exercising? It occurs to me that a pool that is slightly too cold for comfort for some may be an annoyance, but a pool that is too hot may be a danger. Most of the stuff I found after a quick search relates to pregnancy. I'm not even a little pregnant. As far as I know.
Be very careful training in warm/hot water. I swim in Arizona and the University team likes to keep the pool at 82. The problem is that us old fat dudes (and dudettes) have a hard time dissipating the heat. I am just beginning my return after taking 4 years out of the pool. I ended up getting really really hot during an 800 LC swim in 1997 when it was 110 degrees outside and 84+ in the pool. Got out of the pool, tried to cool in the shower, got ice bags on my head, and continued to sweat profusely. I ended up having a heat stoke and lost my vision for about 30 minutes. My threshold for the heat went down continually and by 2003 it got to be that I couldn't get my heartrate above 80 bpm without migraines that would last for days. It was to the point I couldn't finish a 500 warm-up. So, I quit all together.
My comeback has been difficult as I gained another 40 lbs over the condition I was in when I quit. So, at 260+ lbs, I make sure I am well hydrated before workout... and throughout the day. If the pool water is warm/hot, then it just becomes a recovery/drill/technique workout. I've been doing lots of those, but as my weight has come down, so has my times, and my tolerance for the warm water.
Whatever you do, adjust your effort for how you tolerate the heat. Everyone is a little different.
Be very careful training in warm/hot water. I swim in Arizona and the University team likes to keep the pool at 82. The problem is that us old fat dudes (and dudettes) have a hard time dissipating the heat. I am just beginning my return after taking 4 years out of the pool. I ended up getting really really hot during an 800 LC swim in 1997 when it was 110 degrees outside and 84+ in the pool. Got out of the pool, tried to cool in the shower, got ice bags on my head, and continued to sweat profusely. I ended up having a heat stoke and lost my vision for about 30 minutes. My threshold for the heat went down continually and by 2003 it got to be that I couldn't get my heartrate above 80 bpm without migraines that would last for days. It was to the point I couldn't finish a 500 warm-up. So, I quit all together.
My comeback has been difficult as I gained another 40 lbs over the condition I was in when I quit. So, at 260+ lbs, I make sure I am well hydrated before workout... and throughout the day. If the pool water is warm/hot, then it just becomes a recovery/drill/technique workout. I've been doing lots of those, but as my weight has come down, so has my times, and my tolerance for the warm water.
Whatever you do, adjust your effort for how you tolerate the heat. Everyone is a little different.
