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Original poster

Sea swimmers - how do I warm up?

28 replies

KindergardenCentre · 11/09/2020 10:38

I started sea swimming over the summer and want to keep it up as long as I can, but the last two sessions had me frozen afterwards. I'm out of the water an hour and despite a hot shower (and even drying my hair), I'm wearing a wool jumper, wool dress, fleece, thermal tights and I've just had a cup of tea, I'm still freezing. I've the kettle boiling again for more tea and a hot water bottle.

OP posts:
GerundTheBehemoth · 11/09/2020 10:43

Here's some advice about dealing with the dreaded 'after-drop': www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/warming-up-after-drop/

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 11/09/2020 11:25

Thanks, thats really helpful. I wasn't at the feeling sick stage but I was definitely light headed during the week. I had made tea to bring with me but of course left it on the kitchen table while I was hooshing the dc out the door. I'll pack a banana too next time. Hot water bottle is working wonders right now.

OP posts:
TriSkiRun99 · 11/09/2020 18:04

Sounds obvious maybe but don’t stay in as long? I only do 15mins max if just in a costume and I wear swim hat. If in my wetsuit I can do 45-60mins ok. You can get gloves & booties or wetsuit vests which all help as the temp drops. Your body does acclimatise I think. I’ve been going most weeks 1-4x a week 10mins a go (in cossie) and get straight in no problem and don’t seem to feel it afterwards but I also cycle there and back which warms me.

TriSkiRun99 · 11/09/2020 18:05

Got my DH & DD teen a wetsuit vest from lomo. co.uk - they are tight fitting but sleeveless so help keep core bit warmer.

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 11/09/2020 23:40

I was only in 15mins today, 20 earlier in the week. I have a shortie wetsuit which is fine for mucking about with the kids but I find actual swimming really difficult in it, the arms feel too awkward. I prefer to swim in just my suit and my bioprene.

Definitely think I need to acclimatise. I'll just have to be brave for another couple of weeks . Cycling there would be fine but it's a very steep hill back Wink. Actually, it would take me too long to get there and back to cycle it regularly and I'd just end up not going.

OP posts:
Sittin · 11/09/2020 23:43

Don’t have your shower for at lambast an hour after swimming.

Sittin · 11/09/2020 23:43

Lambast = least Hmm

NavyBerry · 11/09/2020 23:45

What is the sea temperature atm?

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 11/09/2020 23:48

@Sittin

Don’t have your shower for at lambast an hour after swimming.
Oh interesting. To let core temp come up naturally?

Re the water temp, I've absolutely no idea. I'll have to see if I can find out somewhere online. I'd imagine I'm a wimp rather than it being Arctic though Blush

OP posts:
Palavah · 11/09/2020 23:50

Make sure you're warm before you go in.
Warm up from the inside out - noy just tea but something else. OSS encourages cake.
Dont have a hot shower as you'll bring blood vessels to the surface and lose more heat. Shower should be warm at best

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 11/09/2020 23:53

Being cold starting off might have been an issue. I go straight from school drop off and I'm not sure I'm brave enough for jumping jacks in swimsuit Grin

Google tells me the water was 15.5 degrees. Which seems to be on the cooler end of pleasant.

OP posts:
Ponchy · 11/09/2020 23:58

Full body wetsuit is the way forward at 15 degrees

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 11/09/2020 23:59

Really? I was hoping it would be a bit longer until.i needed to think about a wetsuit...

OP posts:
mellongoose · 12/09/2020 00:05

I wear a wetsuit all year round 😳. Water temp is at its warmest currently.

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 12/09/2020 00:10

Warmest?? Definitely not in the irish sea! And one day in August in kerry it was like getting into a bath. Except for the jellyfish.

OP posts:
TriSkiRun99 · 12/09/2020 07:58

Depends where you are swimming as well. I’m in the SW and our closest sandy beach the water feels a lot warmer then even just 5m down the road pebbly beach. We were on hols in Cornwall a couple of weeks ago and even though I still swam in costume but I got a that ice cream head feeling initially when I put my head down it felt a good few degrees cooler than my regular beach Grin Hope you can keep enjoying the sea, I’m hoping I can carry on till November this year if the water quality is ok.

mellongoose · 12/09/2020 08:43

Yes SW here also and yes, this time of the year is the best time to swim. Starts to cool again in November.

mrsmuddlepies · 12/09/2020 08:47

Can anyone recommend a good wetsuit. Lots online are out of stock. Shorty or full length?
Any suggestions gratefully received

LaTomatina · 12/09/2020 08:48

Maybe a short jog on the beach as soon as you're dry and dressed? What a lovely thing to do. Let me know what time, I'll come with you next week and bring a flask of tea and some mittens!

TriSkiRun99 · 12/09/2020 14:10

There’s lots of wetsuits but the big swim brands are blue seventy, zone 3, huub, 2xu

This time of year you may get triathlon hire shops selling off cheaper as they are expensive normally £150+ at the cheaper end as different fit and material to surf wetsuits. But given the Tri season was mostly cancelled may not be any deals around. I’ve got a blue seventy wma as the only suit that came in shorter length with big boobs Blush. Try wiggle co.uk they normally have good range and you can return.

TriSkiRun99 · 12/09/2020 14:11

Equally if your not doing much I’ve also got a Tesco cheap shortie £20 that I can swim fine in for 15-20mins Grin

CMOTDibbler · 12/09/2020 14:57

I'm a lake swimmer, but swear by being really warm to begin with - if I went straight from the school run I'd do boots and big coat there. Then while you are swimming, put all your clothes, inc bobble hat, gloves shoes (I have fake uggs just for after swimming) in an insulated bag (the sort you get in the supermarket with a foil lining) with a hot water bottle layered in the middle. By the time you get out, everything will be toasty warm and lovely to put on. If you don't have a dry robe type thing, they are brilliant as you can just put it straight on over your cossie, pull cossie off underneath, put bobble hat, socks, boots on and drive home with your hot water bottle on your lap.
Don't have a hot shower until you have properly rewarmed else your peripheral veins expand and the circulation through that cold tissue will drop your core temperature. Instead sit around in your dryrobe and have a hot drink or two.
I'm a wuss and am back in my wetsuit and will add neoprene hat, gloves, bootees, thermal vest etc as time goes on

Original poster
KindergardenCentre · 12/09/2020 20:52

I love the idea of wrapping my clothes in a hot water bottle, ace idea, thank you. Wrapping my pjs before bed is my favourite part of winter Grin

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 12/09/2020 21:37

Someone on the Outdoor Swimming Society FB group recommended the insulated bag thing this week, and it is a game changer - I've previously put a hot water bottle in my dryrobe and it makes that warm in the bit inside, but the bag gets the warmth right through everything.
The style and beauty mavens would not approve of my stylish orange argyle bobble hat (so that I know its the one that smells of lake water), red dryrobe thing, onesie, and ugg like boots but it works for me.

TriSkiRun99 · 13/09/2020 16:08

Love this idea too CMOT will do for the autumn swims

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