Wetsuit wisdom?

Diana, Yes, I finished the 1 mile....48:53. I did better last year. will definitely do it next year again. I had lots of fun. Leonard, I am passing on Chestertown this year, but maybe next year I will give it a try. Good Luck! dvarner, Yes, A Maytag washer definitely! The bay did have a yummy taste of diesel fuel from the boats perhaps? That is what some people were saying after the race. Happy Swimming! Swimmy :)

Diana - Yes, I intend to be there, the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise. Look for the decrepit old man with a green "Rainbow Channel Swim" cap on. They do allow wetsuits, but I doubt that one will be needed for warmth. Speed is, of course, another issue. It is generally not choppy at all - at least nowhere near the bay. Much closer to a pool swim except... the current. If I am reading the tide chart correctly, it looks like we will be swimming into a current on the way out and then have it with us on the way back, except it will be diminishing somewhat on the way back - no such thing as a free lunch. Generally, the first 1.5 miles out isn't too bad as it is somewhat out of the main flow of the current, but then it gets pretty tough to the turn around point at 2.5 miles. 2 years ago the last 1/2 mile out to the turn around was straight out of a Stephen King novel. Also, they don't have lots of aid (you need to flag a kayaker over to get some water), so you might want to tuck a Gu packet under your cap. No worries about crowds in the 5 mile - 25 would be a huge field and I think that last year they had something like 13 (?). They have adequate bathroom and post-race shower facilities, to boot. The food is usually GREAT, but anyone in the 5 mile race tends to be last pig to the trough. This is about as low-key as races get. Don't go expecting a lifetime best, but the scenery and people are second to none. The race t-shirts are usually funky (and nice). Personally speaking, I find this race much more enjoyable than the Bay swim and have done it 4 times so far. Hope to see you there. -LBJ

Hi Swimmy! Thanks, I am really happy. I have had a stupid grin plastered on my face since Sunday afternoon :-) I was really worried that all the hard work I had done would not be enough, but it was and I am so ecstatic! Yes, it was very choppy! Thank goodness, though, the current wasn't nearly as bad as last year. Did you finish, though? I haven't looked at the results, but did you finish the swim, though you didn't do as well as you wanted to do? I will definitely be back next year! I am really hooked! Have a great week! Diana

Leonard, Yes, I am doing the Swim for Life in Chestertown. Are you? I have never done it before. Do people wear wetsuits? How is the water? Is it choppy like the Bay? I hope it's a fun, easy swim. That will be most welcomed after the Choppy Bay Swim! I have heard it is a great event, but I don't know much else. I plan to do 5 miles, but it will depend on how I feel this Saturday. Hope to see you there! Diana

Diana (and anyone else) - Are you going to do the Swim For Life in Chestertown on Saturday? -LBJ

Hi Leonard! I will be there! I am hoping the weather will cooperate - they are calling for scattered thunderstorms - yikes! I will look for you. So we have to bring our own caps then? That's not a problem. Hi Swimmy! I am glad you made it - Congrats! It was really choppy out there, but it was a lot of fun. I took gingerall tablets the night before and the day of the race, so I had no problem at all with seasickness. I recommend them highly if you are prone to that. And I really could have done without the diesel flavoring - yuck! I only really noticed it toward the end, so it must have been really bad for you 1-mile folks. I don't think it was that bad for us until the end. So are you going to train for the 4.4 swim next year? You can do it! Start training now, and you'll be ready! Have a great day! Di

I remember feeling a little sick after the race last year. Maybe I drank too much water. This year I felt great afterwards. I know other people who were sick. I will pass on that ginger tip. I may do it as a preventative measure next year. I am thinking the boat that put out the buoys went right where we swam. Others were talking about the taste of the water too. No....I don't think I could do 4.4. I will do the one again. I am a chicken.....Perhaps I will think about the 2 mile in Reston.... Happy Swimming! Swimmy:)

Hi Leonard - OK that was a chlorine-induced blond moment on my part! :-) Glad you got to LOL tho. I wish I would have seen your message - I went this morning and bought a bright pink silicone cap because I thought if we have to provide our own, I prefer non-latex. Oh, well. What an airhead! I will look for you. I am really looking forward to the swim. See you there! Diana

Originally posted by DianaC Hi Leonard! I will be there! I am hoping the weather will cooperate - they are calling for scattered thunderstorms - yikes! I will look for you. So we have to bring our own caps then? That's not a problem. LOL - No, I meant that when out of the water I usually wear a green baseball cap that says "Rainbow Channel Swim" on it. They DO provide swim caps that are color coded to the event you are swimming - at least they have in the past. Anyway, see you there. -LBJ

I am a rookie swimmer and have worn a wetsuit for my bay bridge crossings. Three attempts and two succesful crossings. Eventually I will go with out one but every attempt has been tough. For some people it is tough to do it with a wetsuit while for others the the wet suit gets in the way. Remember too that for some people a swim like that is an epic event in their lives.