Cold Water Swim

rlh2000

Looking for some advice for cold swims. I'm doing the Galena Sprint Triathlon on 5/17 and the water temp is 51 degrees right now.  The swim will apparently happen as long as water is 52 degrees or higher.  Brrr!  It is 660 yds.  What do you all recommend besides a full sleeve wetsuit?  Any tips/experience on how this will impact the bike?  I imagine I will be quite chilly at the start of the bike, though that also depends on the air temp.  I'm cold just thinking about it!

GMAN 19030

Definitely a neoprene cap and maybe neoprene booties.

rbogle

x2 on the cap. I've never swum with booties, but @ 52f you feel will likely be a bit numb getting out of the water, so might be worth it. 

Edwin Croucher

@Rachel, I live in Oswego, NY right on Lake Ontario. I will start swimming in the Lake this month. This year is a little colder than preious years so the lake is still in the 30's. I usually wait for the temperature to get above 45 degrees. I find that the biggest factor is the air temp. If it is not warm outside, it is really hard to get in and swim. I where heavy swim cap, swim gloves and booties when it is in the 40's. I also wear a long sleeve under armour shirt. I would make sure you get several swims in before race day. The more you are exposed to the cold water, the easier it is to do. It gives you an advantage over all the others.

Yasko Howell

Agree on booties & neoprene cap. I actually wore 3 caps at IM CDA which water temp was in low 50's. - regular cap, neoprene cap, and the race cap on top. I also wore a long sleeve thin shirt underneath. Find out from the race organizer if you can wear booties as some races don't allow them. I never heard any races allow gloves, but I have seen people wearing thin surgical gloves. not sure if that would do anything... The other thing I learned at a cold open water clinic that I attended was to warm up not in the water but on land. We did jumping jacks, walking on hands & feet facing up, etc. Just to get your HR up before the swim. Also, put your face in the water just before the race starts, so you won't have the initial shock of the cold water when the race started. Your swim is short, so you will prob. be okay, but I wore an extra shirt that I can throw away during the bike.

novaavant

Here is my experience with cold water, you might get some tips out of my race report.

http://members.endurancenation.us/Forums/tabid/57/aft/11003/Default.aspx#11003

I heard after the race that water temps were more like 49-50 degrees and the air temp was 48 plus a steady wind. Per Edwin's comment I found the air temp to be the most jarring coupled with the wind.

In terms of the squid lid - neoprene cap - I've tried it since this race but cut off the strap that goes around your neck and this made it a lot more tolerable. I'm racing Alcatraz again this June and will probably just use two swim caps again but it's good to try out all your options to see what works best for you.

Enjoy the race.

harrast

Below the 70s I would wear a neoprene cap. I also wear silicone earplugs (the kind with concentric rings). The earplugs keep the cold water out of my sensitive ears and squelch some of the noise. I've never swum below 60, but I would be looking for gloves and maybe/probably booties. When I did St. George last year somebody offered to pour hot water into my wetsuit before the start. I accepted and it felt really good.

Jonathan Brown

I agree with the cap and the booties. Also you may want to drink some whiskey before. That may help. If not, it will make the rest of the day interesting. Good luck... i can just say that, i would not be getting into that water at that temp.

Swanie

Neoprene Cap will keep your brain warm which will reduce the risk of an ice cream headache. Booties will help keep your feet warm but can slow you down due to water intrusion. There is only so much you can do about the water temp and the swim. What you do on the bike can have more to do with your success on the day. You are going to be numb from the ankle down, it will feel like you are running on nubs through T1, just accept that you have not actually lost your feet it feels like you did. Suck it up and get changed, you WILL warm up, it may take the entire bike but by the time you hit T2 you should have most of the feeling back. Most of your struggle will be mental due to the numbness. I would suggest arm sleeves under your wetsuit, yes they will get wet but the dry very quickly and then they will help you warm up. They are impossible to put on in T1 sue to being wet. Also get some cheap cotton gardening gloves to wear out of T1 that you can drop at an aid station. 

Al Truscott

Triple cap (swim cap, neoprene, race specific cap.) ear plugs are a must. Splash water on face and hands before immersion. Booties. Arm sleeves or long thin full sleeve "rash guard". Cotton gloves at start of bike. Bubble wrap (padded manilla mailing envelope) or news paper under jersey, latter two to be discarde when you "warm up" on the bike (if that ever happens).

Anu Rao

Another vote for triple cap. One thing that worked for me was to drink some warm ginger tea (honey and ginger in hot water) before and something warm for after. Chemical warmers for bike shoes after will help with numb feet. If you wear booties make sure they fit well, I ended up not using mine for because they seemed to pick up tons of water.