hypothermia

I was a surfer myself here in Ireland for about 10 years before taking up open water swimming 2 & 1/2 years ago. As i surfer I though I knew about real cold. I had gotten out after 2 or 3 hours surfing in a 5/3mm suit and been almost unable to open the car. But then I started open water swimming here. I'm not big or very heavy, 5'8", now 165 since I put on about 10 lbs muscle from training in the last year. Anyway, last year I did a 9 mile (tide assisted) race in oct, water temp 12C, (about 54F) expecting 13C.. Cold at start, felt ok after a few minutes. Swam fine first 50 minutues, when I had my first food break (warm drink). My hands never regained full flexibility after that and gradually lost effeiciency. (The test is if you can touch your thumb to your small finger). I finished in 3 hours. the last mile was very rough with wind against tide. I remember finishing well but can't really remeber anything for the next 15 minutes, though I did manage to dress myself. My girlfriend said my speach wasn't slurred but very very slow and my coordination was shot. I warmed up with hot soup and plenty of clothes but don't recall how long it took, which is unusual. Other bigger swimmers were much better. Since them I've done a lot of cold water, water never got warmer than 65 here this summer, and is currently low 50's. But i've never tried 3 hours in 54F again, as I don't feel it's very benficial for me (although the experience of early Stage 3 or "Mild Hypothermia", as is technically what I was in, was very valuable for an open water swimmer. At 54F I do 40 to 50 minutes. Wind strength and direction are important, a northerly wind is much colder and that's important (Also air temp and sunshine). Fingers will be starting to spread at about 40 minutes in good conditions. What's noticeable is that COLD often isn't the actual sensation, as you're skin is numbed to it, but the sense of decreased efficiency. When getting INTO very cold water (for me probably 10C/50F or colder) what's just as important is how much it hurts/how long it hurts after immersion. The colder the water the place I feel most pain is the soles of my feet. The colder it is the longer this pain will last and the more uncomfortable when I get out (and the more likely are cuts on my feet). I think there's a difference also in Acclimatization or Habituation. Habituation for me is getting used to getting in. The physical sense of fear of the cold has diminished, and putting my face in is fine, and dealing with the pain (which hasn't kicked in yet this winter (currently 11.5C/53F). However acclimatization (being able to stay in longer) hasn't changed much. I think the extra time I can spend in is just as related to the few extra pounds I'm carrying. I'm only in the sea once or twice a week currently (pool other days) currently. This autumn/winter though I'm monitoring and recording temps versus physical effects more closely as part of building up my knowledge. I plan to write a bit more about this in the next day or so for anyone interested, as the early days of my open water swimming I had no-one to ask with no open water (or Masters) swimmers where I live and I found it difficult to gather information, a lost of what I have now comes from only 3 seasons experience. But since many of the very good open water swimmers I know are also much bigger than me, they are not as concerned as me about half degree variations. regards Donal (2nd post but the first about night swimming seem to never make it to the thread)

I was a surfer myself here in Ireland for about 10 years before taking up open water swimming 2 & 1/2 years ago. As i surfer I though I knew about real cold. I had gotten out after 2 or 3 hours surfing in a 5/3mm suit and been almost unable to open the car. But then I started open water swimming here. I'm not big or very heavy, 5'8", now 165 since I put on about 10 lbs muscle from training in the last year. Anyway, last year I did a 9 mile (tide assisted) race in oct, water temp 12C, (about 54F) expecting 13C.. Cold at start, felt ok after a few minutes. Swam fine first 50 minutues, when I had my first food break (warm drink). My hands never regained full flexibility after that and gradually lost effeiciency. (The test is if you can touch your thumb to your small finger). I finished in 3 hours. the last mile was very rough with wind against tide. I remember finishing well but can't really remeber anything for the next 15 minutes, though I did manage to dress myself. My girlfriend said my speach wasn't slurred but very very slow and my coordination was shot. I warmed up with hot soup and plenty of clothes but don't recall how long it took, which is unusual. Other bigger swimmers were much better. Since them I've done a lot of cold water, water never got warmer than 65 here this summer, and is currently low 50's. But i've never tried 3 hours in 54F again, as I don't feel it's very benficial for me (although the experience of early Stage 3 or "Mild Hypothermia", as is technically what I was in, was very valuable for an open water swimmer. At 54F I do 40 to 50 minutes. Wind strength and direction are important, a northerly wind is much colder and that's important (Also air temp and sunshine). Fingers will be starting to spread at about 40 minutes in good conditions. What's noticeable is that COLD often isn't the actual sensation, as you're skin is numbed to it, but the sense of decreased efficiency. When getting INTO very cold water (for me probably 10C/50F or colder) what's just as important is how much it hurts/how long it hurts after immersion. The colder the water the place I feel most pain is the soles of my feet. The colder it is the longer this pain will last and the more uncomfortable when I get out (and the more likely are cuts on my feet). I think there's a difference also in Acclimatization or Habituation. Habituation for me is getting used to getting in. The physical sense of fear of the cold has diminished, and putting my face in is fine, and dealing with the pain (which hasn't kicked in yet this winter (currently 11.5C/53F). However acclimatization (being able to stay in longer) hasn't changed much. I think the extra time I can spend in is just as related to the few extra pounds I'm carrying. I'm only in the sea once or twice a week currently (pool other days) currently. This autumn/winter though I'm monitoring and recording temps versus physical effects more closely as part of building up my knowledge. I plan to write a bit more about this in the next day or so for anyone interested, as the early days of my open water swimming I had no-one to ask with no open water (or Masters) swimmers where I live and I found it difficult to gather information, a lost of what I have now comes from only 3 seasons experience. But since many of the very good open water swimmers I know are also much bigger than me, they are not as concerned as me about half degree variations. regards Donal (2nd post but the first about night swimming seem to never make it to the thread)