Wetsuit wisdom?

Feel better! Take some vitamin C. A:)

Allyson - Sorry about that, but life DOES get in the way. I'm sure we will meet up at some point. I may just "swim through" it as I have a BAD cold, he said, feeling very sorry for himself. -LBJ

Leonard, Glad your race went well. Sorry you had that accident. Cell phones and driving don't mix. My parents had an accident a few years ago with a cell phone driver who ran a red light. Luckily they were okay. Geochuck, Glad you survived your accident too. Have a great day! A :)

Allyson - Thanks. I did fairly well (won my new age group - I aged up 7 days ago) and had a lot of fun. I also helped monitor the kids 1/4 mile by swimming/walking alongside the kids. That was actually more fun than the race. Almost didn't get there, though. Some yotz rear-ended me hard while I was stopped at a red light (he was on a cell phone) and pushed me into on-coming traffic. How the traffic didn't hit me, I'll never know. After that, the trunk wouldn't shut/latch and I had to crawl into the trunk through the back seat to chain the trunk shut so I could keep driving to get there. It was a long day. -LBJ

Those rear end accidents can be career enders. I was put out of action for a year. I was a passenger and we were hit from behind then smashed into the car infront. The dash of the car I was in was completely bent out of shape from my knees and of course my knees were both injured to the point that ever after that accident I had washer woman's knees, not a pretty sight. The car a total wreck. Arms, shoulders and neck were very sore for a couple of years after that. However I only stopped racing for one year and was back on the pro marathon cicuit the next year. I was hurting but I needed the prize money more and was still able to win a couple of races and place in the money in them all.

Any chance you are doing the September Splash in Wildwood September 17th? Lake Montclair in Va September 10th? A :)

I can't make the Pageant swim, but maybe we will meet up at the September Splash! Happy Swimming! A :)

Allyson - Possibly the September Splash race, but not the other. I won't know for a week or so due to other obligations that are looming and that I may not be able to weasel out of. I think I am going to also do the Pageant Swim next Saturday, as well. You? -LBJ

Dont Forget a warm swim cap can keep you a lot warmer sans wet suit (Some like the bubble strap style are English Channel legal) as lots of body heat goes out through the head. SF Bay Ca swimmers are in 55 F water all the time. And many only wear a cap see the page about cold water caps www.geocities.com/.../coldwatercaps.html with links to some cold water swim places

Originally posted by Leonard Jansen Allyson - Possibly the September Splash race, but not the other. I won't know for a week or so due to other obligations that are looming and that I may not be able to weasel out of. I think I am going to also do the Pageant Swim next Saturday, as well. You? -LBJ Sooo looks like I'll miss meeting you guys! I did the Sept. splash a few years ago--total newbie, knew NOTHING about OW swimming, didn't even belong to a masters' group, but a running injury was making me antsy for some sort of a race, and I figured since I could swim a mile in the pool.... I finished 2nd to last (okay, so reverse the order and I get to be second, lol!) in that race, and I'd thought of coming back this year to see how I'd do, now that I have a little masters and open water swimming experience (still slow, I should note, but my swimming looks prettier). ;) However, I have a half marathon the next day, and a crazy weekend altogether. But it would be great to get to an open water swim at some point where I could meet some of you!