Cold water swimming

Bog Butter

Some health benefits:

http://thenextchallenge.org/2010/02/cold-water-swimming/

I had a swim in the sea today. I was wondering does anybody else do the same during autumn/winter? Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

martin6651

Do it here in Blackrock Galway all the time and always feed great afterwards. A lot of fresh water in the sea at present with all the rain and the gates open at the salmon weir, plays havoc with buoyancy and temperature.

Bog Butter

And do you continue swimming all through the winter?

Nonmonotonic

Re. point number 4. I thought it worked the other way round!

martin6651

Malman suspect you left out a YOU in your question. Yes I swim 365 days.

Bog Butter

Yes I did, apologies. Fair play to ya re the swimming. Is there a certain length of time you should not be in the cold water for?

julio_iglayzis

malman wrote: »

Yes I did, apologies. Fair play to ya re the swimming. Is there a certain length of time you should not be in the cold water for?

Was it your first OW swim of the year last Sunday Malman? If so, that's pretty impressive. Welcome to a very addictive and healthy pasttime.

I started back into the sea last April and have swum very regularly since then - but I find that at the moment, five minutes is all I can really manage before it starts to become a painful experience - but I think it really depends on the individual, how fit you are, how much you weigh and how acclimatized to the cold you are. I'm fairly fit but I'm very skinny, so there's not a lot of insulation on my body unfortunately:D - but I would imagine that more than 10 minutes in the cold water at this time of year (without a wetsuit of course) would be the limit for most people, but I'm open to correction.

martin6651

Try to get in a minimum of 10 minutes but I do push it further if conditions dictate. When the temp. falls further I use gloves and light booties. But I intend to get a wet suit next year to train for my swim across Galway Bay(13K) next Aug.

Bog Butter

Went out again today. No that wasn't my first time. I've been out a few times. Yeah it sure is addictive and i think I'm getting used to the cold temperatures because it doesn't feel that bad when going in initially. I start swimming straight away and try to keep going so I don't feel the cold. It seems it work.

swimforever

julio_iglayzis wrote: »

I would imagine that more than 10 minutes in the cold water at this time of year (without a wetsuit of course) would be the limit for most people, but I'm open to correction.

The more often you get in, the more you will get used to the cold and that in turn will allow you to stay in for longer. I was in the sea last weekend for over an hour togs-only with only a little shivering after. As the winter goes on I'll be getting in every weekend, the times will get shorter but the shortest that I will stay in for will be about 30 minutes hopefully.

That said-this is my fourth year swimming through the winter. The first year was hard but my body is used to the cold now (I wear shorts all year around). I also definitely have some natural insulation! And I'm in training for a long, cold OW swim-it can be hard to make yourself get in for any length of time on the really cold days if you're not training for something specific.

A few points to be mindful of if you are swimming through the winter for the first time...
- Hypothermia comes on REALLY fast and without you realising it. Always make sure that you swim close to shore so that you can get out quickly. Make sure that you have a watch on and don't stay in for longer than you intended to before you got in-hypothermia can make you disorientated and you may feel that you're ok to stay in even if you're really not.
- Make sure to have someone with you-if you can't get someone to swim with you then have someone on shore and check in with them every few minutes to make sure that you're ok. A good test of hypothermia is to ask a question that you should know the answer to normally with very little thought...something like your middle name, your mother's maiden name or a simple sum. If it takes a long time to answer the question then it's time to get out.
- Get dressed immediately when you get out. Your body temperature will drop within a few minutes of getting out and you will start shivering...probably a lot!! Get your wet togs off and warm layers on as soon as you can so that you give your body the best chance of warming up quickly. Hint: fiddly clothes (buttons, bra clasps, etc) are not easy to put on with numb hands when you're shivering violently...bring clothes that are easy to put on!! And bring something warm to drink for after-tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soup. The best way to get warmed up is from the inside, it makes a huge difference.

Swimming through the winter is great fun and is definitely invigorating. Just be sensible with it, it's not the time of year to be taking any unnecessary risks.

malman - where are you swimming? I know people who will be swimming through the winter in a few different places around the country if you're looking for company. I'm in Cork and we've got a great group down here, we had about 22 in last weekend doing various distances and lots of those will continue right through so there's always someone to swim with!

desk1

Hi,

Looking for some advice on open swimming. I have been swimming in Seapoint, Dublin this year and have a wetsuit, hat etc to combat the cold. The only problem is my face gets really cold and I want to know if anyone has a tip to combat this? Is there something I can put on my face to keep out the cold? I am thinking of an ointment not a face mask.

Any help appreciated

Killgore Trout

Haven't heard of one I'm afraid. If there were such an ointment people would be rubbing the stuff all over themselves during the open water racing season.

okane1

If your a guy then don't shave!! The hair might add some insulation. You could try vaseline but that would wrecked your goggles. .
You could swim head up but the best method is to become used to the cold water. Let your body build up a resistance to the coldness.
Remember a lot of OW swimming and been cold is in the head, just bear in mind that you know the stages of hypothermia and know when to get out.

Ensure you have a warm hat ready for after the swim.

DonalB

I write a LOT about open water swimming on my blog at loneswimmer.com. My preferred subject is cold. It's too big a subject to answer in a brief post. (I'm an English Channel swimmer). Listen to everything swimforever above says. She's a goddess of the sea and one of the world's best open water swimmers. :-)

okane1

DonalB wrote: »

I write a LOT about open water swimming on my blog at loneswimmer.com. My preferred subject is cold. It's too big a subject to answer in a brief post. (I'm an English Channel swimmer). swimforever above is a famous Channel swimmer (& friend) not an ordinary Channel swimmer like me. :-)

Member of your blog, find it very informative.
Think I met you last year at the beginish swim; I went of with Ned and Carol in the last wave.
Keep up the good work on the blog, especially those 100x100x100s - no way!!

mad m

okane1 wrote: »

I went of with Ned

Ned

I KID YOU NOT!!!

okane1

mad m wrote: »

I KID YOU NOT!!!

Assume you have meet him. He has done so much for OW swimming in Ireland

mad m

okane1 wrote: »

Assume you have meet him. He has done so much for OW swimming in Ireland

Ah yeah...You always know when Ned is in da House!!! He is always down at Kinsale swim, great swim btw. lovely clear water and always great craic afterwards. Its actually the best run swim I've been at (Fair play to Cork Masters). An hour after swim and you get a text with your swim time, position.....

I Kid you not!!!:D

Fuinseog

Bog Butter wrote: »

And do you continue swimming all through the winter?

I used to do every weekend, now i do it when the mood takes me. its a great way to start the day. it also helps keeps colds at bay.

Fuinseog

Bog Butter wrote: »

Yes I did, apologies. Fair play to ya re the swimming. Is there a certain length of time you should not be in the cold water for?

each to their own. for me it depends on how fit I am as really cold water takes my breath away. I find January the coldest month. some days I might mange 15 mins. its something you can build up.of course its a lot easier and safer to do with other people.

if you really want to swim in Irish waters all year round I recommend you get a copy of 'Swimming to Antarctica' by Lynne Cox. there is a lot in it about how to swim in cold open waters wearing just your swimsuit.