So, after reading through some threads in which it seemed like people suggested they trained in open water after dark, my question is: Do You?
Typically, a few times a year (usually when the moon is bright) I will go out at night and do a normal long swim, but I don't make a habit of it. Last October, before the water here in CT got too cold, I went for several night swims (using tinted goggles, which was a bit of a mistake) but now I am thinking of making this a more regular thing in order to train more when the tide isn't conducive to training during the day (i.e. when I'm at work). Is this just stupid?
It doesn't seem any more dangerous to swim at night than during the day (particularly with appropriate goggles:)) since I am always swimming by myself anyway. Any thoughts on this?
When you swim the Catalina crossing you start a night from a cove on Catalina Island. I had never swam at night before and it was quite unreal. The only lights are the pilot boat and the light in the kayak that I was following. As I was swimming over the kelp beds, something nibbled at my feet. I turned quickly around to hit whatever was tasting me. I could see nothing so I kept swimming. This happened four or five times during the night and each time I would turn as fast as I could to hit whatever it was. The kayaker told me that it was likely a cleaning fish, cleaning my feet. Still it was not something I was expecting.
When you swim the Catalina crossing you start a night from a cove on Catalina Island. I had never swam at night before and it was quite unreal. The only lights are the pilot boat and the light in the kayak that I was following. As I was swimming over the kelp beds, something nibbled at my feet. I turned quickly around to hit whatever was tasting me. I could see nothing so I kept swimming. This happened four or five times during the night and each time I would turn as fast as I could to hit whatever it was. The kayaker told me that it was likely a cleaning fish, cleaning my feet. Still it was not something I was expecting.
