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rocky79
Joined: 19 Apr 2017 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:47 pm Post subject: Open Water - what is cold? |
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Hi All,
New to the forum and triathlon but have been reading lot for advice, so hi!
I'm about to start open water training and have now got my wetsuit - but was wondering what is actually cold in terms of the water temp.
Training will be in a lake (Queenford, Oxfordshire) which from looking at the website is around 12c currently but is this cold? Do I need gloves/socks/hat?
I know the question is subjective and have seen pictures of people in just swimmers in the same lake but was paddling in the north sea this weekend and couldn't stay in for a more than 30 secs or so - assuming that is colder than a lake.
I would say I dont feel the cold particularly but I would wear gloves running up to about 10c as tend to get cold hands.
Thanks
Last edited by rocky79 on Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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blindcider
Joined: 12 Sep 2013 Posts: 267
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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12 degrees should be fine if you have a decent wetsuit. The key is to acclimatise, don't just expect to get in and swim several kilometres like you might in the pool. Get your face wet first and let some into your wetsuit. It might take a few sessions to get used to it.
Booties and gloves are not allowed in races so I have never bothered to try them. I also make do with two swim hats rather than a neoprene job.
One thing I find helps massively with my OW swims is earplugs. I used to get dizzy and seasick in OW but with earplugs in haven't experienced this at all.
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SGreg
Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 1109 Location: High Peak
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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12 DegC is cold
Painfully cold, but bearable.
I never wear anything other than a hat and wetsuit and have swum in much colder.
Despite the initial PAIN, it does pass. your extremities and face go numb and the pain recedes, but its awfully uncomfortable, and fairly unproductive from a training point of view.
Really as a new swimmer to Open Water I would wait a few weeks till the temps eek up a bit further, there will be little to be gained from subjecting yourself to such discomfort. Honestly you will have enough on your plate adapting to the environment.
at 14DegC it just feels cold but not uncomfortably so you can get on with the business of overcoming the other myriad of open water demons you are likely to face.
TBH I would be surprised if your lake is 12DegC yet, things up here are MUCH colder ATM
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SidSnot
Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Posts: 1639
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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To be honest, I'd wait a bit until its warmed up. It'll be much more enjoyable.
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salad_dodger
Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 61 Location: Bristol
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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To me 12 degrees is bloody freezing and will result in ice cream headache in less than 60 seconds. I'd happily go surfing in that temperature but I'd be wearing a winter wetsuit not a silly thin tri wetsuit. As far as I'm concerned swimming is meant to be an enjoyable experience so I'll be waiting at least another month before I venture into my local quarry.
Cotswold Water Park were saying the water temperature there is 14 degrees and I know quite a few went in over the Easter weekend. They haven't stopped shivering since. Probably.
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leahnp
Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 1927 Location: Scottish Borders
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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It was 12/13 degrees at Challenge Iceland last year, they said it was 14 when they tested the water in the shallows to ensure that the race went ahead. 1900m later I struggled to do anything with my frozen fingers
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Doca
Joined: 27 Feb 2014 Posts: 237
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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I swam in our local lake on Monday, I think it was 11 degrees. I managed a lap but it was pointless from a training perspective, my form was crap and time was slow. I'll wait a bit before I get back in.
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PCP
Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 1959 Location: Manchester
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Hopefully non of you ever come up and do Slateman, it would give you nightmares!
I'd say the opposite to most above, get in there now. Spend a few minutes stood/sat/sculling in the shallows and acclimatise. Then go and swim a loop. I really, really dislike the cold water but as horrible as it is it will only get better as weeks go by. When it gets to 14 then 15 then 16 it will feel great.
Wait a month till it gets to 15 and that will feel really cold to you and you will still be lacking in OW skills.
My first OW race is in 3.5 weeks and I'll be in the Quays 1-2 times a week preparing, starting on Saturday morning. Really not looking forward to the first 5 minutes but it is what it is.
A lot of races will let you wear neoprene hats, socks and gloves but won't pay prize money if you wear them
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KingstonGraham
Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 7555
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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My niece went for a swim in the sea in Devon on Saturday in just a cozzie. She did say it was cold, but stayed in for quite a while.
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kevb
Joined: 11 Aug 2010 Posts: 793
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Open Water - what is cold? |
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rocky79 wrote: | Hi All,
New to the forum and triathlon but have been reading lot for advice, so hi!
I'm about to start open water training and have now got my wetsuit - but was wondering what is actually cold in terms of the water temp.
Training will be in a lake (Queenford, Oxfordshire) which from looking at the website is around 12c currently but is this cold? Do I need gloves/socks/hat?
I know the question is subjective and have seen pictures of people in just swimmers in the same lake but was paddling in the north sea this weekend and couldn't stay in for a more than 30 secs or so - assuming that is colder than a lake.
I would say I dont feel the cold particularly but I would wear gloves running up to about 10c as tend to get cold hands.
Thanks |
Rocky, I've sent you a PM.
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Cheshire_set
Joined: 21 Mar 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Wilmslow
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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I now swim regularly in the winter but its taken time to learn the signals from the body, what is right and what is wrong and to get used to the cold water and crucially - to know when to stop. I agree 100% that if you are not experienced this is not the time to be starting out. OW swimming can be a daunting proposition to some and dealing comfortably with cold water is a difficult thing to grasp. If you can wait just a few more weeks the shallower lakes will quickly warm up. Slightly different if you are in for an event such as the Slateman, then it maybe worth very short supervised sessions but the only benefit will be to acclimatise. Its quite an unusual (and tough) event, the lake is cold & deep plus its early in the year (both times I did it they cut the swim short due to water temp).
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SGreg
Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 1109 Location: High Peak
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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PCP wrote: | Hopefully non of you ever come up and do Slateman, it would give you nightmares!
I'd say the opposite to most above, get in there now. Spend a few minutes stood/sat/sculling in the shallows and acclimatise. Then go and swim a loop. I really, really dislike the cold water but as horrible as it is it will only get better as weeks go by. When it gets to 14 then 15 then 16 it will feel great.
Wait a month till it gets to 15 and that will feel really cold to you and you will still be lacking in OW skills.
My first OW race is in 3.5 weeks and I'll be in the Quays 1-2 times a week preparing, starting on Saturday morning. Really not looking forward to the first 5 minutes but it is what it is.
A lot of races will let you wear neoprene hats, socks and gloves but won't pay prize money if you wear them |
Most people really struggle with their first open water experience and often its very off putting, The last thing they need is the feeling of their hands feet and face aching from cold while they uncontrollably flap in the water unable to do anything remotely resembling a "stroke" all for 20 mins where near hyperthermia means they need to get out.
You won't be stood, sat or sculling in 12DegC water if you are not well acclimatised.
I'll be hitting the open water really soon too, and might even consider a dip in my local Ice hole, but I have hundreds of hours under my belt, and have swum in 8/9/10 degC water
Telling a Newbie to just suck it up really is poor advice. I just can't see what can be achieved, unless your first OW A race is REALY early, just wait until things are more pleasant. Rushing into the Cold could easily see you ending your journey there.
Save Freezing your face off for next season.
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Gus
Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 2565 Location: Freezing my nads off in Aberdoom
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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8 degrees up our way at the moment.
And no, I haven't been in yet. I'm not bloody stupid.
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stenard
Joined: 04 Sep 2013 Posts: 1948
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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I did my first (UK) OW swim of the year on Sunday morning in the London Docks. Apparently 10.4 degrees. It was seriously cold initially, and took me a good few minutes of acclimatising and breathing out with my face under water to get comfortable.
But once I started swimming, it was fine. Ended up doing 3.5k.
I'd sit somewhere in the middle of the above advice. It will be unpleasant initially, so if you're easily put off stuff, wait until it warms up a bit. That said, it is safe to swim so long as you properly acclimatise, and if you really want to get in the water and accept the first 5mins will be a shock, then you'll probably enjoy it by the end. Distance passes so much faster in OW - I struggled to motivate myself through 2k in the pool last Thursday, yet the 3.5k in the docks flew by.
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fat buddha
Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 2530 Location: rural Zuzzex
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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12C is bloody cold - I tend to wait until it's 14C before getting in.
also factor in the air temperature - at the moment it's pretty cold and often sub 10C so add the chill of that to the chill of the water, and you could be heading for hypothermia if you don't get warm quickly after the swim!! so, if you do swim in cold water don't hang around too long after
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