Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:04:59 GMT

Experience is the answer. You are on the right track with your swimming, to be swimming at night is bold, as Gary said he gained more confidence swimming at night by swimming. Thats the only way to keep it all going forward.. by doing it. Gaining experience and confidence with it.. Its the same in many other things if you think about it.. All things we do get better as we keep on trying and learning. Sounds like you are enjoying your swims and are on your way, Keep it up! I will say one more thing I preach "drownproofing" for open water swimmers, I don't know if you have heard of this . Its super easy to do and yes it works. the US military teaches it, It can save your life as you can stay afloat a long time if you know how to do it and can keep your head and do it. If ever you get in a jam, rip tides ect , If you know this and can relax and do it you will be ok. Basicly you relax (easier said then done I know I know) then bob up and down in the sea breathing out under water and bobbing up to bring your head above water and taking a breath . Up and down you go stright up and down. it takes very little energy to do this and you can survive . Its so easy to do , really try this see what you think see this page for details: http://www.drownproofing.com

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:00:02 GMT

Are you saying that in spite of the feeling that my life is in danger, i actually will not die? because i think that's what i need to hear :doh:

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:07:40 GMT

Oh well Surfergirl.. You are open water swimming "at night"..I guess its alright to be a bit "scared" .. I think we all would be .. "just a bit".. LOL Maybe the Navy SEALS training out there need a night swim partner. Your a brave swimmer for sure.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:39:10 GMT

thanks, lapswimmr and gemich. any advice on how not to panic, as that is the bigger problem :drown: i'm getting better, i just tell myself to swim slowly and steadily and not try to go fast and run out of breath

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:21:57 GMT

YOU LOVE IT!!!!! whitewater,..sneaker waves,...the shore soooooo close yet sooooo far,.......the sting of the cold water,... the kelp embracing you,..the senses,..all on edge and all overloaded,..the Ocean ,,what a great soothing friend, and at times such a harsh unforgiving lover. I can`t tell you which is better,..finially getting thru the breakers and establishing a pace,...or on the return,..swimming until your hand strikes sand. ...

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

gemich — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:38:23 GMT

Surfergirl: So you don't lose anymore goggles, wear them under your swim cap. If you're wearing a neoprene cap & a latex or silicon, put your neoprene cap on, then your goggles and then the latex or silicon cap. This also works well in open water races where there are a lot of arms and legs flailing around at the start - you might get an elbow or foot in your face & the goggle might get dislodged BUT you won't lose them cuz the outer cap will keep them secured.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:24:30 GMT

Basically whenever i have to stop, turn around, and duck under the waves, i get nervous. The problem last night was that the waves weren't really coming in sets, they were constantly coming so after diving under a couple, i had to just decide to start swimming to shore otherwise i'd never get there. I hate swimming in the whitewash, it is so turbulent and i know a wave is about to hit my back and it's at that point that i start to panic a little. i did get a hit by a couple and that's when my goggles fell off. i think i just need to stay calm when swimming through the whitewash.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

gemich — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:46:40 GMT

SurferGirl: I'm not clear on what caused you to panic - just the general night swimming or the wipeout with the wave when you were leaving the water. If it's just the general night swimming then that's relatively easy: experience. I used to be terrified of swimming at night but after I did it repeatedly in Aquatic Park the confidence built incrementally each time and now it's a special pleasure to be able to swim at night & see the city scape all lit up. If it's the waves tumbling you about upon your exit then you need to try reading the waves better so you can hit shore between waves or learn to body surf them in. And, if they're about to crash on top of you, do like the surfers do, go underneath them til they've passed. And that's real smart not to be out there by yourself.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:03:42 GMT

A little off topic as this has nothing to do with the water temperature, but i just felt the need to share and none of my non-swimming friends would really understand... Swimming back into La Jolla Cove tonight i had a pretty big scare...the waves were bigger than i expected, and i'm not that used to swimming at night yet so everything added up made the exit very scary. Lost my goggles but that was the least of it. It was a good exercise in NOT PANICKING, which i need to constantly remind myself to do! Still recovering from the trauma. Yikes. Luckily i was not swimming alone.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:13:20 GMT

California is the land of the surfer and as a result "The Beach" thanks to the Beach Boys and other music groups and film. What a lot of people dont realize is how much colder the West Coast waters are then the East Coast, summers on the East Coast run high 60's to the north to high 70's in the south. avg. SF bay is pretty deep I'd say 300 ft under the Golden Gate. Gary what is the high summer temp of SF Bay? San Francisco is a truely great place to see and open water swim, if anyone is going that way on business or travel. I understand you can swim at the Aquatic park for a day fee with showers at the Dolphin Club.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

gemich — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:42:06 GMT

During our warmest months - end of August through mid-October - the water gets up to a scorching 62 degrees. And you'll probably get a "warmer" reception at the South End Rowing Club (more blue collar, friendlier) than at the Dolphin Club. As a footnote, I did an afternoon Alcatraz today and the water temperature was 51.2. Thank God for saunas & hot showers! Happy holidays to all!

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

gemich — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:57:13 GMT

Actually 55 in SF Bay right now would be down right balmy - during the winter, it actually gets down to 50 and sometimes even into the 40's for a week or two during the winter. We expect the water temp to be right at 50 on New Year's Day when members of the South End and Dolphin Clubs do our traditional Alcatraz swim. I guess it builds character or some such nonsense!

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:48:32 GMT

A swim cap in itself is like a wetsuit for a lot of swimmers as it keeps the heat in , earplugs are a plus also and can keep you from becoming disoriented in cold water. See this page for details on caps (maybe you have seen swimmers at La Jolla Cove with these caps) and some links to some open water swim sites like the SF Bay Dolphin Club and SERC swim club. They swim in SF Bay with no wetsuits just caps in 55 F water year round! Cold Water Swim Caps www.geocities.com/.../coldwatercaps.html

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:19:21 GMT

Earplugs and a swim cap keep the "computer" warm.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:17:53 GMT

I know this thread is sort of turning into a blog, but... I swam today with earplugs for the first time and oh my god how they make a difference! I went twice as far as i expected considering the water temperature. I had no idea earplugs protected you from the cold that much.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:03:50 GMT

When I swim in cold water I eat more, I feel healthy (in reply to your 2nd question) and my tolerance for cold weather is much better I would like to add a question: I'm currently swimming in (60 - 63 degrees) water for 1 to 2 hours, it feels like my body is stiffer and less flexible compared to swimming in hotter water (+ 70 degrees) for example It takes me 3-4 more strokes to complete 50 meters in cold water. Has anybody else experienced the same?

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:18:45 GMT

it_kam: I don't notice that while i'm in the water, but when i swim in really cold water i notice that my muscles are really stiff after i get out. if i have soreness or stiffness from lifting, it is exacerbated by the cold water. Ron: I'm not sure but i will try to make it to the Polar Bear swim:party2:

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:25:04 GMT

Another question on this general topic...do you find that cold water swimming makes your immune system really strong? Of course, it might just be luck as I've only been doing the cold water thing for a couple months...but I feel healthier than I've ever felt. I swam through the fires and through the dirty water with our big storm a week and a half ago, and never felt better.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:30:34 GMT

"2) I swim at La Jolla Cove at night--is there anyone here who is interested in joining me? Otherwise it's just me and the sharks! " I swim there on Sunday afternoons,..not every Sunday but a few times a month,..maybe I`ll see you New Years Day for the Polar Bear Swim?

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Rob Copeland — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:28:59 GMT

When I started swimming on colder open water I also added a few pounds.

RE: Hello...a few questions about cold water swimming

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:52:27 GMT

Another question (I told you i had a lot!)... Does cold water swimming increase aerobic conditioning? My theory is that cold water swimming is similar to training at high altitude, because the cold water restricts your airways and makes it harder to breathe, so your body has to do the same exercise with a decreased level of oxygen. I don't know if I just made that up or if it's true.