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.
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Former Member
I've never read anything about this, but my experience tells me that the determining factor is the combined air and water temperature. I can swim in the ocean at 70 degrees when the air is 90, but I can't swim in pool at 70 when the air is 60 degrees. On the other end of the scale, at my Y, which is usually around 84, I do okay in workouts as long as the air temperature is reasonable. On hot summer days (90 and above), the 84 is hard to tolerate, even in an indoor pool. I need to start a log (a good use for my USMS planner) and record the air and water temperature and my reaction during a workout.
That explanation makes sense to me. On Friday night I swim with a group in the YWCA pool, which always seems freezing, even though the lifeguards keep it at 28C (about 83F). I seem to be part polar bear when it comes to outdoor swimming, but shiver whenever we stop in this pool.
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Former Member
I've never read anything about this, but my experience tells me that the determining factor is the combined air and water temperature. I can swim in the ocean at 70 degrees when the air is 90, but I can't swim in pool at 70 when the air is 60 degrees. On the other end of the scale, at my Y, which is usually around 84, I do okay in workouts as long as the air temperature is reasonable. On hot summer days (90 and above), the 84 is hard to tolerate, even in an indoor pool. I need to start a log (a good use for my USMS planner) and record the air and water temperature and my reaction during a workout.
That explanation makes sense to me. On Friday night I swim with a group in the YWCA pool, which always seems freezing, even though the lifeguards keep it at 28C (about 83F). I seem to be part polar bear when it comes to outdoor swimming, but shiver whenever we stop in this pool.
