Swam 4800 yards in Lake Michigan this a.m.--w/out wet suit. Don't know the exact temp, but I'm guessing based on past swims it was about 60. I'm not a great swimmer, but am usually close to middle of the pack in tris and the few open water swims I've done. This summer I've done a lot of lake swims, and swam the 1.5 mile Alcatraz Challenge on 7/12 "nekkid."
It seemed like it took forever to warm up this a.m.--about 200 yards before I was willing to consistently keep my face in the water. Blood rushed to my chest, but I've had that cessation before. My feet were cold the entire time and three hours later remain a little sore.
I know, I'm a baby.
I've had some tenderness on the outside of my upper left arm for about 3 weeks, and the pain flares up when I swim, but I can make it through 2-mile pool workouts. Anyway, about 3200 yards into today's swim I noticed the fingers on my left hand wouldn't stay together. Try as I did, I couldn't get them back together.What a weird feeling. I swam most of the last 1200 yards with my left fist clinched.
After I was out of the water a few minutes, I could put my fingers back together. My fingers remain stiff and the underside, outside of my left wrist has a dull pain. I've take about 600 mg of Ibuprofen.
Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but any ideas on why this would happen?
Former Member
I have to say, I am in awe. I had to convert that to Celcius to get an idea of the temp: 15 degrees C. There is no way that I would get in water as cold as that. The ice bath at the swim complex I go to is about 12 or 13 degrees and that is agony. I can barely stay in it for 30 seconds before I get an intolerable pain in my feet. Swimming in that would be impossible. I wouldn't be able to function and I am convinced my heart would stop beating. Perhaps it comes from living in the tropics, but I am a wimp when it comes to cold water.
I have to say, I am in awe. I had to convert that to Celcius to get an idea of the temp: 15 degrees C. There is no way that I would get in water as cold as that. The ice bath at the swim complex I go to is about 12 or 13 degrees and that is agony. I can barely stay in it for 30 seconds before I get an intolerable pain in my feet. Swimming in that would be impossible. I wouldn't be able to function and I am convinced my heart would stop beating. Perhaps it comes from living in the tropics, but I am a wimp when it comes to cold water.
I never thought I'd try it either, but you might surprise yourself. After about 5-10 minutes of swimming I almost completely get over the bone-chilling cold. You know it's cold but the urge to jump out of the water and run (over the surface of the water) back to dry land goes away completely. (This is probably your body instinctively giving up on torturing you to get out and just allowing you to function and make the best of your situation.) I found it very invigorating to swim in 59-60 degree Fahrenheit water and look forward to continuing to do it. If only my left hand didn't turn into an unusable claw within 30 minutes... Maybe that will improve as I continue to do it more often.
Yes, but Big Shoulders is in the playpen at Ohio Street Beach. I imagine its breakwater protects it a bit from the upwelling that drags the cold water up from the depths.
S
Yes, that's my impression too.
Okay, wait a minute. So what is the temperature at Big Shoulders anticipated to be? My family and I are venturing there for the first time. I did the Lake Memphramagog swim in July at 70 degrees, and that felt okay.
What is the typical Big Shoulders temp?
I remember swimming the 1 mile race at Center Island July 1st when I was 15 years old 38 degrees F.
And swimming at Sunnyside Park when there was an off shore breeze that was very cold.
All the pollution in Lake Ontario tends to have an insulating effect.
I remember swimming the 1 mile race at Center Island July 1st when I was 15 years old 38 degrees F.
And swimming at Sunnyside Park when there was an off shore breeze that was very cold.
I imagine the water was far cleaner when you swam in it? Nowadays you tend to have to go further away from the city in order to find a decent spot in the lake to swim (love Sandbanks). It's still pretty darn cold, but refreshing on some of the more hot and humid days. I grew up on Lake Superior, now there is an icy cold lake...
