Open water swim question, cramping and pain
I swam a 3 mile open water swim last weekend, and I am sorer than I have ever been after a race, and in very unexpected places. My palms, upper back and calves are killing me. This makes me think that I was doing something really strange but I do not know what. I had unbelievable calf cramps about 1 hour into the swim and had to swim the last mile just pulling.
Some background, I am a pretty strong swimmer, 1:35/100y and I have been swimming about 18000 yards a week in preparation for the Chesapeake Bay swim in June. The water was 67 degrees and very choppy with a 1.5 mile current against us for 2/3 of the race (and with us the rest of the time). I ended up finishing in 1 hour 49 minutes. I wore a full-sleeved wetsuit, I normally wear a sleeveless one.
Any ideas what I was doing wrong and how I can fix it? The Bay swim is 4.4 miles in 6 weeks and I would like to have a less painful swim, and not risk a DNF.
Thank you
Christy
Comments
Most of these issues will go away if you continue to swim open water with a wetsuit (even long continous swims in a pool) for 60-75' sessions.
Calfs hurt from pointing your toes for such an extended period of time: In a pool we are taking micro breaks after 100's / 200's etc. This case you had your calfs engaged for 110' !
Back, will go away with more time in the wetsuit, your stroke will change very slightly with sleeves on a wetsuit.
Palms, my hands always hurt after long open water swims for the same reason as the calf. You have your hand flexed (maybe even locked in a slight cup) for a long time with no break. I will swim fist every once in awhile for a few storkes and also open my fingers from time to time.
A few years ago, during the Big Shoulders 5K swim my calfs cramped and pretty much had to drag myself to the finish line. Lake Mich was 60 degrees and no wetsuits. Its a very painful experience.
Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have never swam open water for more than about 1.5 miles and this pain was all new to me. I have been swimming 1000s in the pool, but I do stop and stand up at the end of each set. I will start just swimming straight through and see if I can toughen up my calves. I think I will go back to the sleeveless suit for the bayswim.
I don't think I would have made the swim at 60 degrees with no wetsuit and cramps! That does not sound like fun.