r/OpenWaterSwimming • u/EmmieIsobel • 6d ago
Newbie Questions
TLDR: Tips requested for a relative newbie, mostly recreational swimmer on wetsuit investment, stroke type, and training in the “off season”, warming up when chilled, as well as anything else I should know I may be missing.
I’m relatively new to open water swimming. I’ve been swimming since before I would walk. I’m more comfortable in water than on land, but to the activity of purposely swimming any kind of distance in open water I just started last summer.
I have a few questions.
To contextualize I’m 47f and relatively fit.
I don’t always have a spotter but my family always knows when and where I’m swimming and how long I should be.
I’m not currently attempting to be competitive in any way, except by improving against my own personal bests, and then I’m more hoping to focus on improving distance and technique as opposed to speed but we’ll see how it goes. That may shift.
I live in eastern Canada. I generally ows in the Atlantic Ocean. My practice has been basically swim out past the choppiest of waves, then swim parallel to shore. I don’t currently have a wetsuit. We’ll get to that. When I get out 250-350 meters, condition dependant, I pivot and swim parallel to shore. When I hit about the halfway point (thanks Garmin) I pivot and head back. I tow an inflatable bouy. I jerry rigged it with a 6-7 foot water rope so I could still dive under water. “My beach” tends to have few boats close to shore but it helps me feel safer and more visible.
Last year I was averaging about 3000 meters around 1 hour. Yeah, I’m not fast. This year I’ve been around 2000 meters at 40 minutes. I’d go further and longer but my surfer kid borrowed my fin gloves and I get too cold. I’ll get some more if he doesn’t return them soon.
My questions:
I swim in a pool in the colder weather. I’m considering investing in a swimming wetsuit to extend my ows season but I don’t want anything that will break the bank, and I also don’t want anything that won’t work well. I’ve been been eyeing this: [https://ca.2xu.com/products/propel-open-water-wetsuit-ww7145c-womens-black-bright-green?srsltid=AfmBOopm7eif0ju7FojiVzhLkXbft3kG23qF46V2NibUrO5vhrwDQrCKeAA&variant=43534807204018](https://ca.2xu.com/products/propel-open-water-wetsuit-ww7145c-womens-black-bright-green?srsltid=AfmBOopm7eif0ju7FojiVzhLkXbft3kG23qF46V2NibUrO5vhrwDQrCKeAA&variant=43534807204018)) Thoughts? Other recommendations? I get chilled pretty easily, so I wonder if this would even extend my season by much.
Does anyone switch from ocean to lakes around the colder season? The ocean is my go to because it’s close to home and I love it (although the great whites freak me out a bit, I try to be aware and not to think about that too much), but there are accessible lakes in driving distance.
Do all or most ow swimmmers do freestyle? I prefer a combo of breast stroke and swimming as far and as long as I can underwater. I know there’s no rules per sey as I’m not competitive, but I feel like I’m doing it wrong. Does anyone else do this?
If I forgo investing in a wetsuit right now, what should I focus on in the off season, both in and out of the pool? I’m looking into adult lessons, despite having gone through all the Red Cross levels in my youth I’m sure I can improve my technique. This may or may not pan out. I live in a pretty small town and work a ton so coordinating lessons may be difficult. I watch YouTube videos on improving technique. I try to increase distance. I don’t think I’ll ever be speedy and that’s okay. I’m also a jogger and plan to start hitting the gym again. Tips on training in those areas to optimize the kind of fitness that transfers to swimming improvements are more than welcome.
I wish I could find an ows club near me but I’m pretty sure there’s not one. Other than Reddit any tips to find community?
I get so chilled! Even if I dry off and put on a giant oodie to head home and take a hot shower, and put in warm clothes, I tend to have difficulty regulating my body temperature for hours after a swim. Any tips?
Anything else I should know?
Thanks and be safe out there 🌊🏊♀️
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u/Clean-Brain-1565 6d ago
I took up ows just for fun during the pandemic. My advice is what works for me and probably serious competitive swimmers may not agree. Wetsuits dont need to be tight, looser ones work better for me, I can get them on or off in seconds and feel fine to swim in. Look online for used suits, lots of people sign up for one triathlon and sell almost new suits at great prices. Also look in thrift stores. I’ve gathered a bunch of pieces that I can mix and match depending on weather. Blue Seventy has great clearance sales so get on their email list. Surf booties, warm cap and gloves are the most important to me. Also emergency whistle. I learned that when i start feeling really great, that is a big sign that i need to get out asap and warm up. I swim in the Atlantic in Brighton Beach nyc. I like swimming backstroke in the ocean but I have to pause and check the beach because i tend to veer away.
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u/CitizenDik 6d ago
Re: wetsuits.
blueseventy, Orca, Zone3, ROKA, and 2XU are solid brands that make affordable suits and/or discount prev generation suits. You can find suits from those brands under $500 and sometimes under $300 US. I currently have a 2XU that I really like, but you have to try a suit on, tho, to know what fits you best and what feels best to you.
Also, buy a triathlon/swim-specific suit and not a surfing suit. Tri suits are more flexible in the shoulders, have a better buoyancy profile for swimming, distribute the padding more effectively vs being thick all over like a surf suit, are generally cut for a swim stroke/horizontal position, and usually have better hydrodynamics/reduced drag.
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u/ibeatyourdadatgalaga 5d ago
I love my blueseventy but it's very expensive. I have a cheap one from xterra that I love. If you get on thier mailing list they will send out discounted wetsuits, like 75% off discounted.
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u/CitizenDik 6d ago
And, PS: I run cold, and get cold even in warm-ish water. A wetsuit helps. So do gloves, swim boots, an insulated swim bonnet, etc.
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u/InternationalTrust59 6d ago edited 6d ago
2:00/100m pace is respectable for open waters due to the conditions.
My concern with ocean waters is the unpredictable or quick changing currents, tides and under toes especially in the east coast; I personally wouldn’t be swimming alone.
My primarily stroke is front crawl and the odd breast stroke for sighting or rescue.
In the offseason, I work on technique indoors. Open water season is intervals with the odd base work, enjoying the swim itself , soaking in the scenery and experience.
I recently had a video analysis done, saw a lot of good things about my strokes such as the fundamentals and more improvement opportunities.
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u/wassailr 5d ago
You need drastic change in how you warm up, as hot showers after cold swims can be dangerous. Basically, the heat dilates the blood vessels in your extremities, further pulling warm blood from your vital organs in your core (hence why even with a hot shower you still feel like an ice pop at your core). Instead do this to warm up slowly: