It's Tuesday and Thursdays I belive cat, same as last year opens at 5 I can probably get there for about 5:30 il be the one in the wetsuit..... Instead of that absolute nutter who did not have one... Bleeding open water swimmers are all nuts
I managed an hour in the river last night. Water was 16 degrees so heating up fast now. back again tonight as it is so lovely out there that it would be rude not to
H0nk, there are a few places around Oundle and Fotheringhay. I'd rather not post them publically as some of them are on private land which we have permission to use, but drop me a message or find me on Facebook and I will share.
We sometimes go in the Ouse at St.Neots too, or the Cam but thats a bit far away for me.
This evening we got in the water at 7:30pm and did up to an hour depending on individual ability, so there is plenty of time for you to get there after work assuming you do fairly standard hours.
I was boring a few folks about this swim race series at the DIY tri at the weekend. IF anyone fancy's a good laugh in a openwater river race this is great!
Frag I was there yesterday evening and it was around 16, I think it had been up to 18 earlier in the day, so it was a little to warm no need for gimp hats.
Until I find somewhere to stay I don't think I will be able to do weekends
Wow if it's 16 I might join you next week! I have to admit Reading has been the only place I've swam without a wetsuit (it had been 30 degs that day and I actually got too hot with the sun on my back) I guess it's quite shallow compared to the East Berkshire lakes?
The lake will be full of Pirates at this rate!! Weathers looking better for Sunday at the moment, so make take a dip then.... as long as I have enough time for the wetsuit to dry before Ipack!!
And swimming without a wetsuit is a sure sign of insanity
Having started the thread with the aim of getting people to meet up, have fun, and go OW swimming, I decided that it was time to explore the outside world.
Following a recommendation (from here!) I went to the Bristol Open Water place at Trench Lane, near Aztec West. Easy access from the M4/M5 motorways. The water is 5 foot deep, but milky looking from the natural clay in suspension. The swim course is 650m unless you follow my wake trail.
Today, it was blowing a hoolie, the temp was probably 12 degrees. With a gimp hat I was lovely and warm, but a bit constricted. So, I tried out with just a Pirate swim cap. Ice cream head for 150m. Interestingly, by the end of the second lap I was actually getting warmth and life back into my finger tips. Bizarre. Oh, and the waves were somewhat interesting...
Masters swimmers often have their arms at 90 degrees on the pull as it is the most efficient way of swimming. However for longer distances it can put a lot of strain on the shoulders so a more relaxed arm is prefreable, but it should still be bent. Straight arms are not ideal. Think about it logically, you want to move the water that is close to your body so that you move through the water quickly. Moving water further away from your body is wasting energy
Sinking feet - kick harder and use your core muscles to hold them up. People under estimate the importance of a tight core in swimming
Dammit, she's so right. The other thing about straight arm swimming is that it lifts the front end of your body, which then bobs downwards just at the point that I want to breathe. (That was a reference to my stroke technique). I've heard all the talk, but it will simply take years of tutored sessions before I get to look like a swimmer. In the meantime, the aim is survival.
Comments
It's Tuesday and Thursdays I belive cat, same as last year opens at 5 I can probably get there for about 5:30 il be the one in the wetsuit..... Instead of that absolute nutter who did not have one... Bleeding open water swimmers are all nuts
I managed an hour in the river last night. Water was 16 degrees so heating up fast now. back again tonight as it is so lovely out there that it would be rude not to
Hi Caz, where bouts do you swim in the Nene? just trying to work out if I could get there after work 1 evening.
alternatively does anyone use Box end at Kempston? I might ocassionally be able to make a midweek lunchtime session there.
Useful thread this, Tri20 centre is a bit far for me for regular swimming but I just entered the big fish swim on 26 May, anyone else doing it?
H0nk, there are a few places around Oundle and Fotheringhay. I'd rather not post them publically as some of them are on private land which we have permission to use, but drop me a message or find me on Facebook and I will share.
We sometimes go in the Ouse at St.Neots too, or the Cam but thats a bit far away for me.
This evening we got in the water at 7:30pm and did up to an hour depending on individual ability, so there is plenty of time for you to get there after work assuming you do fairly standard hours.
One of my favourite and most memorable swims was at 2 degrees, DF3.
Jamie/Cat I doubt that I will be able to get there much before 6, so will plan to be there at 6 on Thursday.
You normally are
I'm working late Thurs so won't be there. will pop over at the weeekend for a final swim before race day though - if its not too cold!!
I was boring a few folks about this swim race series at the DIY tri at the weekend. IF anyone fancy's a good laugh in a openwater river race this is great!
http://madswimming.org.uk/mad-open-meets-only.html
Anyone going to Tri20 on Saturday am ? can't do thursday evenings (too much on being chief taxi to the kids)
Rafi - how's the water temp? I have new wetsuit, but do I need my new made-to-measure gimp hat too ?
Tri20 pix- it's at the reading lake hotel, which is just round the corner from your folks. It's sat/sun 7.30-10 i think....
http://www.mysportingtimes.com/tri20-swim-centre.htm
Frag I was there yesterday evening and it was around 16, I think it had been up to 18 earlier in the day, so it was a little to warm no need for gimp hats.
Until I find somewhere to stay I don't think I will be able to do weekends
sounds positively tropical BBT
I probably won't be able too thurs evening I might and I say might be able be able too do this sat but I could be working don't know yet
I'll be there Sat or Sun. May even try tomorrow night. Speshially as I'm not running for a few weeks.
Wow if it's 16 I might join you next week! I have to admit Reading has been the only place I've swam without a wetsuit (it had been 30 degs that day and I actually got too hot with the sun on my back) I guess it's quite shallow compared to the East Berkshire lakes?
The lake will be full of Pirates at this rate!! Weathers looking better for Sunday at the moment, so make take a dip then.... as long as I have enough time for the wetsuit to dry before Ipack!!
And swimming without a wetsuit is a sure sign of insanity
Bosworth tonight, hoping to be able to manage more than 1.2k before I freeze
OW swimming starts in Rutland Water this Saturday- http://inspire2tri.com/programmes/open-water-swimming-2/open-water-swimming-events-in-rutland-water/swim-information-club for details. Won't be down there this weekend, but am trying to get there next Saturday. Anyone interested?
Having started the thread with the aim of getting people to meet up, have fun, and go OW swimming, I decided that it was time to explore the outside world.
Following a recommendation (from here!) I went to the Bristol Open Water place at Trench Lane, near Aztec West. Easy access from the M4/M5 motorways. The water is 5 foot deep, but milky looking from the natural clay in suspension. The swim course is 650m unless you follow my wake trail.
Today, it was blowing a hoolie, the temp was probably 12 degrees. With a gimp hat I was lovely and warm, but a bit constricted. So, I tried out with just a Pirate swim cap. Ice cream head for 150m. Interestingly, by the end of the second lap I was actually getting warmth and life back into my finger tips. Bizarre. Oh, and the waves were somewhat interesting...
Fun though, AND NO CHLORINE.
Ok wetsuit ordered planning on going to boundary water park next Thursday. Anyone else planning on going? Need moral support for my first OW swim
Swimming WITH a wetsuit is madness Raf! If you like to surround yourself with chemicals then get back in the pool
Caz, you'd swim in a puddle if you could!
I've swum in a river only a foot deep. It teaches you to bend your elbows properly on the pull and keep your feet up
Interesting....I bang my knuckles on the floor of the local pool in the shallow end. I shall try this high-elbows hype.
Feet are always down. Cat5 = sinker.
Masters swimmers often have their arms at 90 degrees on the pull as it is the most efficient way of swimming. However for longer distances it can put a lot of strain on the shoulders so a more relaxed arm is prefreable, but it should still be bent. Straight arms are not ideal. Think about it logically, you want to move the water that is close to your body so that you move through the water quickly. Moving water further away from your body is wasting energy
Sinking feet - kick harder and use your core muscles to hold them up. People under estimate the importance of a tight core in swimming
Dammit, she's so right. The other thing about straight arm swimming is that it lifts the front end of your body, which then bobs downwards just at the point that I want to breathe. (That was a reference to my stroke technique). I've heard all the talk, but it will simply take years of tutored sessions before I get to look like a swimmer. In the meantime, the aim is survival.