Cold Water problem...how to solve?

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:48:09 GMT

I wear a Aqua-sphere mask,..having the nose covered helps with the vega nerve gig.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:57:06 GMT

Hoosier, that hyperventilation is called "cold shock response". See this article: www.sportsscientists.com/.../exercise-in-cold-part-ii.html. It can be overcome pretty easily at those temps. I really struggled with it when I started in cold water last year, in temps of 64. Now I swim in 55 without much any initial difficulty. With repeated exposure you can train this reaction of your body away. The harder part is dealing with the effects of vasocontriction (resulting in numb fingers and toes), and from the fact that cold water makes you a weaker swimmer.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:26:43 GMT

Oh, I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps the OW just needs to be warmer, and you'll race again! Descending a ladder into water that's cold causes me some respiratory discomfort initially, but it goes away in ca. 30 sec. Acclimating is very important. Thanks, VB! My spirit wants to but right now the body is unwilling. I need to work through it for the present, maybe try to find some medical help, though that is difficult. I mentioned the problem I had with this last year with my PCP and the advice I got was: well, stop swimming then. So I need to find a specialist who isn't going to waste my time or money. And that won't be easy. I hope you're thinking of doing Crystal Lake Saturday! :applaud: JIM

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:16:24 GMT

Thank you for all your advice... I will try and get more acclimated to the water ....not just jump in....Bobinator...have been to the Enchanted meet many times. Generally it is 90 degrees and a lot of sun! Tough on parents. I believe my daughter Mallory has started swimming with you guys in the mornings. (she loves cold water) To do 10k for her is nothing... not that much for me, if you give me a week to get it done! lol Thanks again to all.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Rykno — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:25:07 GMT

two things: 1st thanks for posting the SIPE info (name). I googled it and feel that is totally what bothered me during my younger swim carrier. I could run or bike, play soccer or ultamite and never have a problem breathing, but put me in a pool and I would cough so hard after a hard workout or long race that people thought I was coughing up a lung. 2nd. I found that by wearing two caps, and pulling them as far down my forehead as I could reduced the amount of time it took me to get use to the cold water. but I still swam 25-40m then a few breasstroke pulls, another 50-75, with more breaststroke before being able to swim normally. water temp when I started summer training was 59-61F

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:55:15 GMT

Another thing you could try is splashing your face with very cold water before going in, to give the vagus nerve a chance to get used to the cold.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:39:14 GMT

Bobinator...is the Forest Park Pool where they have the "Enchanted Something" swim meet for age group? Or is that somewhere else/

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:36:45 GMT

Thank you sr,,,this seems right...and actually that is what I did...I swam *** stroke for a while, so I could breathe...it did go away, just really wierd feeling.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:36:20 GMT

It could be asthma, if you're prone to it. Or it could be something else that seems to be emerging. It's called SIPE = Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema. You gradually find it harder to breathe; it feels like you start getting fluid in your lungs. How do you prevent it? It's not known completely. One suggestion has been to make sure you're warmed up (started swimming slowly, or maybe walk/jog before entering the water) enough before swimming. Unfortunately, I got it (again) while swimming in a cool pool a few weeks ago. After that, I realized that my open water race days were over. :sad: I was going to do a mile race Saturday, but that's off. Good luck! And be safe. JIM

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:19:24 GMT

Breaststroke is good...and so is backstroke and walking ankle-high, then knee-high, then waist-high in the water ahead of time, also splashing the face as has been recommended. You can also purchase lanolin from your local medical supply store and firmly wipe a very thin layer of lanolin on your upper body. It will act like a VERY thin wetsuit and will help take away some of the shock of getting in the water. Wearing 2 swimcaps and earplugs (as all surfers do in cold water) are also helpful. You can also build up your brown fat cells (see www.10kswimmer.com/.../staying-warm-with-brown-fat.html) by methods as described by others in this thread. Lastly, you can read the book Wind, Waves and Sunburn: A Brief History of Marathon Swimming by Conrad Wennerberg for a lot of very inspirational cold-water swim stories. Good luck.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

srcoyote — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:04:35 GMT

I've seen in other threads (and this seems to be true) that the hyperventilation on entering the water is a reaction to the cold water hitting a nerve plexus located somewhere between the eyes. It takes about 30 seconds for that to relax. Some swimmers begin all cold water swims by doing *** stroke until they get their bearings. I brace for it and make my first 10 or so strokes very smooth and very even. Then it goes away.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Bobinator — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:22:39 GMT

I'm a hoosier too! Our outdoor pool has been cold lately (74-78) and the air too. I think it's warming back up this week and we'll have the opposite problem. I am going to start taking COLD showers in preparation for the "Big Shoulders" swim. Marcia Cleveland (an English Channel swimmer) took cold showers during her years preparing to swim the channel. (she did some really cold water swims too) Her book implies that she thinks the cold showers helped; it can't hurt. Have Fun!

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

ViveBene — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:56:28 GMT

Unfortunately, I got it (again) while swimming in a cool pool a few weeks ago. After that, I realized that my open water race days were over. :sad: I was going to do a mile race Saturday, but that's off. Good luck! And be safe. JIM Oh, I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps the OW just needs to be warmer, and you'll race again! Descending a ladder into water that's cold causes me some respiratory discomfort initially, but it goes away in ca. 30 sec. Acclimating is very important.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Bobinator — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:02:52 GMT

Yes Hoosier, "The Enchanted Forest" meet is this Sat. and Sun. at Forest Park Pool in Noblesville. Nasti's are gonna have to swim in the lake both days since Carmel and Fisher's are both closed too. Will you be there? You could come swim with us at Morse Reservoir around 9:00 am. It should be fairly warm by Saturday.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Former Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:21:52 GMT

:) that's normal for me. I just do head up *** stroke for a few minutes and relax into it. My blog "Chicken's Nuggets" describes some of my funny experiences in cold water training.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

Jim Clemmons — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:16:57 GMT

.... I admit I am a bit of a wimp as far as water temps are concerned.... Me too. I solved it by staying away from 'em. Yeah, I know, the sissy way out.

RE: Cold Water problem...how to solve?

markm — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:56:43 GMT

hoosier, i know exactly what you are talking about! i found that it is really, really important for me, prior to actual swimming, to slowly warm up in and acclimate to the water. it can take me ten minutes. last week while swimming in a 5k i opted not to warm up beforehand because the lake felt warm. so i jogged into the lake at the start and then start gasping for air, and with my heart racing, i thought my sorry ass wouldn't make it 200 yards! but i did *** stroke for awhile, calmed down, and then had a really beautiful swim. moral of the story, i should have warmed up in the lake beforehand....