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.
please please please post a video
There is a lot of where you live and individual susceptibility. I'm pretty good down to the mid-50s. Since I live in SoCal(like Dan), I can swim year round in the ocean without a wetsuit. Other folks live in places where the winter water gets too cold or are more susceptible to cold water so it doesn't work as well for them.
Trust me, if the water got to 52 or colder, I'd be wearing a wetsuit or swimming in pools all the time. Probably the latter.
It's about 8 or 9 C (46-48) now in Ireland depending where you are. Yesterday we had snow & ice right down the water line, that's a first for me. Still ok for half an hour at 9 C.
Having the coldest Nov in 40 years so colder than normal this time of year. But training for the British Cold Water Swimming champs in January, expected temp 1 to 3C (34-37) but Fresh water so it'll feel even worse.
2 friends are near a lake and training in 6C, 1 friend is in Sweden and training in 3 to 4C sea (Check Steve's post of him yesterday Sun 28th on Daily News of OW.)
Normally no, but if this weather continues then the lakes will get below 5C. However one friend told me last night that the Lido in London is already down to 4. I'm terrified!
Well, last year I learned that was a very noticeable difference between 7 & 5C. I think every degree change below 10 is noticeable (for me).
I have an OW blog. The search item people kept inputting was "how cold is too cold?". Eventually I had to write something.
I divided the possible answers into 3:
-1 degree warmer than it is now,
-Whatever it is now,
-1 degree colder than it is now.
Experience moves you from 1 through 2 to 3. Or at least, I hope so. Having survived 5C last year, I figured I could do 4. But that huge jump from >5C to 'd like to see any relevant info. I'm that kind of guy... PM me & I'll send you my email for the PDF.
Thanks for the congrats. I didn't think I'd written about it here. So I saw from stalking your posts you know Ned & dream about SE Ireland (where I am)? I assume you heard about my swim from Ned so? Are you thinking about coming for the distance camp next year?
It took me a few week to get my head around it (my Channel swim). I started with being a bit embarassed about being sooo much longer than my hoped for time, and then I saw the reaction of all my Channel friends and now, I wouldn't swap my swim for a sub 10 hour. There's no comparison between a record speed swim in calm weather and long swims in bad conditions. I learned too much about myself with everything that happened. If there is a downside, it's that I have to keep having to explain the time with what happened. In swimming circles here, I can now introduce myself "the guy who went under the boat...twice"
Cheers. I firmly believe there is no "Channel caliber". This is a sport that is dictated not by swim ability, (I'm average) but by desire & drive.
How much do you want to do it? As you've probably seen, people will help, expecially Channel swimmers who will do what they can. I had a guy contact me from a forum about 3 months ago. He's already got a training plan, he's met Channel swimmers in San Francisco & New York, all willing to help. The "brotherhood" will help.
The Distance Week is a great week. The overall distance this year was 140k (meters) but it was gradual, worked very well. And no-one is forcing anyone to do anything.
Also, (as no-one knows better than me), time means nothing in the Channel. All that counts is standing up in France.
And to do The Mouth of Hell (the North Channel), you have to have an English Channel done, if you are thinking about it.
Cheers. I firmly believe there is no "Channel caliber". This is a sport that is dictated not by swim ability, (I'm average) but by desire & drive.
...
Also, (as no-one knows better than me), time means nothing in the Channel. All that counts is standing up in France.
And to do The Mouth of Hell (the North Channel), you have to have an English Channel done, if you are thinking about it.
I finally got back to your blog. Good grief!
:bow:
Distance camp sounds great. I am relieved that my aspirations stop well short of the Channel.
