Open Water Swimming at Datchet

Dr Nic Twinks

Cool - say hello to me this time! :-)

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

No..... Im shy <hides behind mums skirt>

Oh ok then, I will if I get a moment to chat when not concentrating on staying above the surface! I will be with me mate swanny down the baby end!

Dr Nic Twinks

OK I'll see you there! I'll be the one hanging on to the green buoy thinking "hm, lakes aren't as buoyant as the sea!"

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

I never made this morning Nic, as my cold has made a bit of a comeback. I thought swimming in a lake probably wouldnt help it much!

Dr Nic Twinks

no worries, it was pretty chilly down there (not in the water - that was a lot warmer than the air!) but the windchill was nasty. So you made a wise decision!

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

Anyone this weekend?

Im going tomorrow I think

Ratbag

What times can you go there?

And where exactly is it?

I could do with some OW swimbling (controlled drowning) practice....

JD.

link's on the first page ratbag

JD.

and handily in the tread title too.

Ratbag

DOH!!!

Ratbag

How does it compare to Heron Lake?

Yes, I know they are both wet.....

Firestar

It's smaller and more like going to a party. Everyone hangs around benches eyeing up eachothers bikes and finisher shirts and eating bacon baguettes.

Heron is more for rugged 'ard people, although I find the bigger loops and lack of bacon rolls and people I want to talk to sitting on the bank helps me swim further ;o)

Ratbag

Hmmmm....tough choice...so how far is a loop???

Firestar

there are three loops. 750m, 500m and a baby 250m one. It's shallower than Heron too so tends to be a bit warmer although last week the weeds were touching my face as I swam round the baby loop.

Ratbag

OK. that sounds pretty good...I'm now up to a massive 20 or so lengths of the pool so once I get a few more sessions in I think I'll give it a go...


It's the bacon baguettes that swung it....

Firestar

There is also a new lake open for OW swimming. Princes Club, it's open Monday evenings so you dont have to face the early start. They also do bacon butties I think and have some decent showers.

I dont know where you live but it is about the same distance away from Heron at Datchet but in the opposite direction.

www.princesclub.com/slipperyfish.asp

Ratbag

Thanks FS...I live near Banbury so Beffont might be a bridge too far...

I can manage Datchet or heron Lake tho'....

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

RB its about another 5 mins drive to Bedfont/Ashford

Ratbag

Yeah, I realise that...it might be worth a go after work as I can get there via M25...(I work in Hemel Hempstead)...

Of course I don't suppose there will be any Pirates at Bedfont...

Dr Nic Twinks

RB, I think datchett is 'friendlier' and it is definitely warmer, and the loop smaller. And it has a hot tub and sauna LOL!

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

Not for the next week or two I imagine, but Hollywood def does train there

Kanga M

RB .. you making a comeback mate ? )

Ratbag

Hello Kanga,

Yep, I'm down for IMF...you gonna do it???

I think I might give Datchet a go once I'm up to swimming more than the pathetic few lengths I am up to at the moment...

back down to the pool again this lunchtime...

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

I slugged my way round the 750 metre course on Saturday, nearly drowned twice, was totally hanging after 750 metres, but its the furthest Ive ever swam crawl, so Im quite happy. took 20 mins!

Bacon buttie was nice too!

Hollywood (busy on runsaturday.com)

I've seen another pirate at Princes...

Only been there 3 times so far - can definitely recommend the showers - superb - really good and lots of them (nicer than Heron and Datchet).

Can also recommend the burger and chips on a Monday night :-)

Ratbag

They do Monday night sessions???

I should have read the website better....

How far is one lap???

BTW, well done bassy. Seems you are somewhat ahead of me then....

Hollywood (busy on runsaturday.com)

They have two different size circuits marked out - one is about 400m, the other is 1100m.

But last time I was there he was telling people which buoys to use for a circuit of 750m as well.

The water is pretty shallow (definitely shallower than Datchet in lots of places) but the weeds weren't too bad last time I was there.

bassy -- annoying people since 1967

I got weeded at Datchet Saturday. I must have shredded a few with my arm, which I somehow deposited on my head next stroke. For the next x amount of strokes everytime I turned to breathe these weeds glued themselves to the outside of my goggles. Right offputting! I had to stop in the end to remove them. I could only imagine I looked like some kind of dodgy doctor who type monster!

Ratbag

Thanks guys...

I know this isn't the crap swimmers thread but I am SO chuffed!!!

Just went to the pool and managed my furthest swim since Vitruvian 2005...

I did 32 lengths!!!

The Rat is back!!! (hopefully!)...

Dr Nic Twinks

Well I've just arranged to swim Windermere in a few weeks so it looks as if I might need to start making more of my lake sessions at Datchett :-/