English Channel

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 14:36:35 GMT

Originally posted by Rob Copeland The injuries on Ron’s neck and shoulders appear to be salt water rubs. Swimming in salt water for extended periods typically rubs raw certain areas of the body where the repetitive motions of the stroke and the associated skin on skin rubbing (with added salt) will rub right through the skin. It looks like Ron missed a couple of spots when he greased up before the race. In his pre-race photos you’ll see he has channel grease under the arms and a little on the neck, but none where he was rubbed raw. Although the fronts of the shoulders seems a bit odd??? It usually takes one big swim (6+ hours) to really find our where you rub. Most people who have done ocean marathons, have 1 or 2 experiences of missing a spot or not keeping a spot properly lubricated. For me, in my first Tampa Bay marathon, I missed a spot on my neck, and after 10 1/2 hours of swimming it was a bloody mess. Fortunately I’ve learned from that 1 bad experience and from the wisdom of others. Lesson 1 – Learn where to apply grease (under arms, between thighs, around neck, …) Lesson 2 – Learn where NOT to apply grease (keep it away from goggles and eyes) You are right Rob if you don't apply lubricant to your chin and neck even the back of your neck you get rubbed raw. It appears to me the front of the neck and shoulder injuries are caused by friction. If you did not apply Vaseline or, (it looks like he used Lanolin) properly these marks appear. This also happens in fresh water. George www.swimdownhill.com

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 14:29:59 GMT

What were we talking about?

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 14:03:12 GMT

Lesson #5: The scoring system was devised by ADHD sprinter types.

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 13:27:05 GMT

Lesson #4. Your team gets the same number of points for the 50 back as the 1500.

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 11:16:57 GMT

A friend of mine uses anhydrous lanolin. That stuff is extremely durable. Goes on thick, sticky and not exactly smooth. After 15hours in the water he still had a thick layer and no rubs or war wounds. However removing the stuff is a nightmare. A baker's scraper removes some, then it either rubbing alcohol or dishwashing detergent. I felt like I could make a great ad for "cuts the grease". But make sure you do this outside as this stuff will definately clog drains. I am still trying to get it off the blanket we wrapped him up in at the completion of the marathon. I agree, Ron's rubs look like a stubble rub. At least he's a bilateral breather. Or if he wasn't he became one to give the other shoulder some relief. Imagine what a bilateral breather's one shoulder would look like. One of my training partners uses bodyglide stuff to prevent this, as he too gets nasty war wounds. Congratulations Rob. That was some ordeal. I admire your focus and determination to complete despite the 'moving' shore line. Well Done. You are an inspiration. Kiwi

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 07:09:05 GMT

My friend Tom Bucy used grafite grease, he applied it all over his body, he said when the waves hit him they will just slide off of him. It became hard and solid and heavy. He was pulled out half way through a race it was like tar. The only way they could remove it was with naptha gas he never used it again. All greases are not equal. I only used vaseline on all friction points. George www.swimdownhill.com

RE: English Channel

Rob Copeland — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 01:10:33 GMT

“This also happens in fresh water.” George, I’ll take your word on this one. Most of my long races have been salt water swims, only Manhattan Island and a 25K Lake swim have been fresh or near-fresh water. And it may have been that I was properly greased for these two. And since George brought up Lanolin – Lesson 6: Don’t use Lanolin for warm-to-hot water swims, it has a tendency to melt away when it gets warm. I stick with Vaseline in any race over about 70F. Although Lanolin or channel grease (50/50 Lanolin-Vaseline) works best for me in cold water, below 65F.

RE: English Channel

jroddin — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 11:36:11 GMT

Rob forgot lesson 3: Learn to swim races 100 yards and under :D

RE: English Channel

Rob Copeland — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 07:22:52 GMT

And Lesson 4 for Jeff – add a few pounds, remembering how cold you were after the swim at San Francisco a couple of years ago, a little extra insulation wouldn’t hurt.

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 15:07:19 GMT

Probably got cut on barnacles/shells at the end climbing out of the water and onto the rocks.

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 14:16:05 GMT

What caused the injuries to the front of his shoulders?

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 09:51:53 GMT

Very interesting. I haven't done that long a salt water swim yet so I don't have experience with this type of repetitive motion injury. I would have never guessed (1) that salt water was that abrassive or (2) that you would rub the front of the shoulder like that. I can see the neck, thighs, armpits because of the skin on skin contact but I would have never guessed the front of the shoulders, LOL and apparently he didn't either.

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 07:31:03 GMT

Maybe go to his website and leave him an email asking him. I met him once and he is a very nice person, so don't be shy. -LBJ

RE: English Channel

Former Member — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 06:05:49 GMT

I can see how you could cut up your hands, feet and legs that way, but the front of the shoulders? And they are symetrical.

RE: English Channel

Rob Copeland — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 03:37:05 GMT

The injuries on Ron’s neck and shoulders appear to be salt water rubs. Swimming in salt water for extended periods typically rubs raw certain areas of the body where the repetitive motions of the stroke and the associated skin on skin rubbing (with added salt) will rub right through the skin. It looks like Ron missed a couple of spots when he greased up before the race. In his pre-race photos you’ll see he has channel grease under the arms and a little on the neck, but none where he was rubbed raw. Although the fronts of the shoulders seems a bit odd??? It usually takes one big swim (6+ hours) to really find our where you rub. Most people who have done ocean marathons, have 1 or 2 experiences of missing a spot or not keeping a spot properly lubricated. For me, in my first Tampa Bay marathon, I missed a spot on my neck, and after 10 1/2 hours of swimming it was a bloody mess. Fortunately I’ve learned from that 1 bad experience and from the wisdom of others. Lesson 1 – Learn where to apply grease (under arms, between thighs, around neck, …) Lesson 2 – Learn where NOT to apply grease (keep it away from goggles and eyes)