This does look like very sound advice. I've generally approached most O/W swims fairly "cold" and unwarmed up. I know that's stupid, but never thought to look for a pool nearby nor to run. I'll try to incorporate some of these ideas as I swim some races this summer.
Patrick -
Pretty early on in my triathlon racing days, I dated a beach life-guard captain. This guy really knew the ocean and did a lot of open water training and racing as well.
The 1st race we did together, he told me he would pick me up at 3:00am!!
"WHAT???"
Well, we had to go to the pool at his club to warmup for the triathlon which started at 7:00am...
I thought he was pretty much nuts and way to obsessive - but I decided to go with it. We swam about 1500 yards of warmup. Took a hot shower - and I had the best open water race of my life!
I also took to running easy before my Ironman races to get my heart rate up.
Other athletes always look at me like I'm crazy... but I know these things work.
Very happy to see that Gerry and Steve have put it down simply for everyone to read.
1st open water race here in Southern California is The Huntington Beach Pier Swim. Saturday June 13th
www.ci.huntington-beach.ca.us/.../pier_swim_09.pdf
If anyone doing the one mile swim at Millerton Lake on May 11 wants to do a pool warm up first, that might be doable. It's around 15 minutes from Clovis North to the lake. The pool is open for the first workout group at 5:00 AM every Monday.
Excellent advice from Gerry, thanks for sharing it.
One other suggestion for warming up for cold water swims... warm-up in a wetsuit. Wearing the wet suit during warm-up allows the muscles to get warmed-up even in cold water. After warming up dry off, remove the wet suit and wrap-up to stay warm until the start.
Patrick -
The 1st race we did together, he told me he would pick me up at 3:00am!!
"WHAT???"
Well, we had to go to the pool at his club to warmup for the triathlon which started at 7:00am...
I wish my pool opened that early! Can't do an indoor swim to warm up.
But that is a great article. Thanks for the link! I don't warm up enough usually, and I think I pay for it the beginning of the race. From now on it's at least a 15-20 minute jog, if not more.
JIM
This does look like very sound advice. I've generally approached most O/W swims fairly "cold" and unwarmed up. I know that's stupid, but never thought to look for a pool nearby nor to run. I'll try to incorporate some of these ideas as I swim some races this summer.
Standing around the race start for fifteen minutes before the horn, shivering, with blue lips, is at least as stupid if not stupider. But warming up in a pool, or running, or wearing a wetsuit, are all much smarter indeed. I too am going to try to incorporate some of these ideas into my race days this summer.
If anyone doing the one mile swim at Millerton Lake on May 11 wants to do a pool warm up first, that might be doable. It's around 15 minutes from Clovis North to the lake. The pool is open for the first workout group at 5:00 AM every Monday.
For instance, this is a great idea. Please let me know if it turns out really to be possible.
I was thinking about Gerry's interview while I was warming up at the USMS 1 Mile Champs in Millerton Lake last Monday.
I didn't know about the Clovis North pool being opened so early, but it turned out fine to warmup in the lake.
It sure helped that the water was 72 degrees!
Ahem... and the B70 & various other suits worn for the race.
I was so tired, I'm not sure the B70 was helping me out much, but I wasn't cold. Guess you might call that a benefit.
I did decide that I will use my older knee length suits in the open water ocean swims this summer.
Already alot of extra flotation in the salt water!
Gorgeous race.
I was thinking about Gerry's interview while I was warming up at the USMS 1 Mile Champs in Millerton Lake last Monday.
I didn't know about the Clovis North pool being opened so early, but it turned out fine to warmup in the lake.
It sure helped that the water was 72 degrees!
Ahem... and the B70 & various other suits worn for the race.
I was so tired, I'm not sure the B70 was helping me out much, but I wasn't cold. Guess you might call that a benefit.
I did decide that I will use my older knee length suits in the open water ocean swims this summer.
Already alot of extra flotation in the salt water!
Gorgeous race.
We announced it several times on Sunday during the meet. I definitely used the pool first. A handful of other people did too, including Jeff Erwin.
I was really sore afterwards. This was my 2nd attempt at open water and I'm pretty clueless on how to deal with it. I'm nearsighted and don't have any contacts right now. I spent much of the race zig-zagging back and forth looking for splashes to follow.
