To start preparing, I got out my wetsuit (it still fits) and swam about 800m at Meydenbauer bay park in Bellevue. The water temperature was 64 degrees according to the lifeguards, but the county data said 70 degrees.
dnr.metrokc.gov/.../BeachData.aspx
Just for the heck of it I swam 100 without the wetsuit, and it actually wasn't that bad once I got moving. I plan to stick with the 1 mile wetsuit race (already registered).
Coming up July 19! This looks like wonderful fun - a deep and cool lake.
http://www.fatsalmonswim.org/
I doubt I'll make it this year so will enjoy following this thread.
:)
1 week left and wonderful 80ish degree temperature leading up to it so the water should only get warmer.
First time for me and I can't wait! Been doing a couple 1 mile swims at Martha Lake.
Good luck everyone.
This sounds fabulous. Wish I could go.
(I did discover that the short course, 1.2 miles, is called Chum Salmon, which I believe is what Alaskans feed their dogs. Sufficiently embarrassing to go for the whole fish!)
Regards, VB
The water temperature today at Meydenbauer bay park in bellevue was 64, according to the lifeguards, same as last time. I think for anything over 70 I would go without the wetsuit.
I swam Madison Park to "the cove" just short of Denny Blaine and back (2 miles rt) with friends Sunday morning (July 13) without a wetsuit. That is the final mile of the Fat Salmon course. Water is definitely above 70 degrees and very pleasant. We guessed 74 degrees.
Water temp posted online as of 7/8 was 72.
See you at the race!
So question that may be more of a general topic, at one point do you say regardless of signing up for wetsuit, that it's too warm and you're better served just going "naked"?
As a lover of chlorine, I'm doing this as my first OW "race" and am all set with the wetsuit, but curious if there's a point where you lose certain buoyancy efficiency by overheating.
I think a wetsuit should only be worn in a race if necessary for cold, or if there are not separate divisions for WS/Non-WS to level the competition.
The FS has separate divisions, so I think its a temperature decision (or a decision as to who you want to race against.)
I think you need to determine for yourself what cold enough for a wetsuit means. For me that is probably around 68 degrees.
I figure I'll go over to the park on Friday and swim around sans-wetsuit and see how it feels. Also because I want to figure out visually the finish so I'm not heading off to 520 thinking I suddenly am out in front and left everyone in the dust when they turned in a 100 yards back :)
Don't worry, you won't miss it. You will be keenly aware of the location of the finish after swimming such a distance. Last year there was a diving platform out in the lake which was where you make the final left turn to head into shore. There were boats loitering in the area to help corral people in.
72 - 74 degrees? This is going to be a tough decision. They can change your category or distance on race day, I think. I'm considering going without the wetsuit, but I'd like to be able to compare my time to last year (when I also had a wetsuit).
I see that it is 72, at least at madison park
dnr.metrokc.gov/.../BeachData.aspx
