I'm too fat for my wetsuit. For practical purposes, I suppose, I'm already wearing one :)
It can make a big difference. In 2008 I raced more triathlons than open water and weighed 168 (very light for me). A couple of the swims were in 60° water including one that I was in the water for almost 2 hours. I definitely felt cold when I got out of those. In fact in the longer one I experienced getting cold inside for the first time as warm blood rushed to the surface. A very weird feeling. Last year I only did OW races and my training was limited by injuries. I bloated up to 192. I swam in one race at 57° and again was in the water for almost 2 hours. When I got out I was not cold at all. Fat does make a huge difference. Next year I'll be racing on the lighter side early in the season and then putting on some insulation for a Catalina attempt in September.
I don't swim in pools, actually; I don't like the chlorine. Plus I do like the cold water; it's just been a little challenging lately. Today, however, was AWESOME! After Thursday's really cold swim, I was actually scared to get in the water with the wetsuit today, but it went really well. An extra cap and I never even felt cold (of course it helps that the air temp is above 60 F). Tomorrow I'm thinking about swimming first with the wetsuit and then going back in with just a bathing suit. Like Daniel Slosberg, I also like the feel of the cold water against my skin, I find that I get an awesome workout in the cold water (though I often have to nap afterwards; I'm exhausted after coming out) and there is something about the bragging rights...if I come out and there's no amazed walkers on the beach, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Also, I go for the same swim wetsuit or bathing suit (a little more than half an hour now).
RTodd: I totally agree; cold air, wind and chop are the kind of things that break my spirit this time of year (especially the chop).
I've finally figured out the solution to swimming in the cold water without the wetsuit, and it's so obvious I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! Yesterday I wore the wetsuit to the beach and brought a regular bathing suuit along too. I went in with the wetsuit and swam for half an hour or so and then got out, took off the wetsuit and put on the regular bathing suit and then went right back in. Since the worst part of getting in - putting the face in - was over, it was easy to just swim for another twenty minutes or so.
I know this will make me sound like a wimp, but why do people swim in very cold water if they are not trying to acclimatize for a cold water race or swim? I always feel that it's better to go for a 2 hour swim with a wetsuit on than to go naked and have to get out after 30 minutes because I am cold.
Is there a "Like" button? I'm with you!
I'm old school. I start up the beach as far as i can get. I start running to the water screaming at the top of my lungs while simultaneously flailing my arms wildly over my head. As soon as my feet touch the water I start jerking them up with my knees high as if I am walking on hot coals. I continue in this motion until I lose my balance and fall over face first - usually in 1 foot of water. I stand up, wiped the wet sand on my face, then turn around and run up the beach, once again screaming at the top of my lungs. I repeat this "routine" until I have completely adjusted to the water temperature, or too exhausted to swim.
I drink a very large cup of coffee in the car on the way to the lake. By the time I get there I'm usually so desperate to pee (the toilets close on labour day) that I have to run from the car, stripping my clothes off as I go, barely making it into the water in time.
That is an interesting find regarding the wetsuit no-wetsuit sequence. Previously, how were you entering the water to start a skin swim?
Just walk in and keep walking until I'm stomach deep and then start swimming, face down. I count strokes, knowing that after, say, 40 strokes, that headache will be gone.
I think I've reached a new level of acclimatization - what was nearly unbearable last thurs. was downright balmy last night. Here's to December!
That is an interesting find regarding the wetsuit no-wetsuit sequence. Previously, how were you entering the water to start a skin swim? For example, my ritual is to walk directly in to the top of my swimsuit, with arms straight at my side such that my hands, wrists and forearms are submerged. I stand there for a bit, essentially still, then walk in deeper to the point that my elbows are in the water. I again stand around, essentially still, look at my wrist watch periodically then put that arm back in the water and making sure to exhale completely on each breath. When the watch is about to read a full minute, I start my forerunner 305 under my cap and push off. For the first ten strokes or so, I make sure my mouth is out of the water when I exhale in case I have a gasping reflex. When i feel all systems are a go, i start breathing normally. Later in the swim, I exhale slowly so that the the bubbles wash around my lips, which is one technique to keep them as warm as possible in order to preserve as much feeling in them as possible, because if they are numb, then I am more likely to be oblivious to the fact that a wave about to wash into my mouth as I am about to breath.
I'm old school. I start up the beach as far as i can get. I start running to the water screaming at the top of my lungs while simultaneously flailing my arms wildly over my head. As soon as my feet touch the water I start jerking them up with my knees high as if I am walking on hot coals. I continue in this motion until I lose my balance and fall over face first - usually in 1 foot of water. I stand up, wiped the wet sand on my face, then turn around and run up the beach, once again screaming at the top of my lungs. I repeat this "routine" until I have completely adjusted to the water temperature, or too exhausted to swim.
