I've been swimming in open water for two years now, but this will be my first winter swimming without a wetsuit. I plan to make it through the winter, although right now I can only go about 1/2 a mile. I really want to work up to at least 1 mile at the current temperature (60 degrees). So I have many questions on my mind, but here are a couple to start off with:
1) In the last month, my caloric intake per day has nearly doubled!!! I know part of it must be from swimming in cold water--I think my body is trying to develop an extra layer of fat to protect itself--but there might be other factors (I've also started lifting weights etc.). So I wonder if anyone else has experienced the same thing.
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 have a lot of other questions burning on my mind...I am so glad I found this forum!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ...
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
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.
