The Open Water

June 2nd

6-3-10 - Run :52/ Bike 1:35/ Swim (open water) 2 miles - Now that the warmer weather is upon us, it is time to bust out the wetsuits and speed suits, wiggle my way into them (as they fit like a giant rubber band) and wade out into the open water to practice sighting. Unlike the pool, there is not a nice, neat black line painted on the bottom of other bodies of water and I am pretty sure no one is going to paint any lines in the sludge of the Ohio River come race day. Therefore, practice with sighting (or keeping an eye on the end point) is extremely important and can be tricky. (PHOTO: Alum Creek State Park Beach where I practice sighting through the "green" water).

The first matter of business in swimming in the chilly open water is to get the wetsuit on. June 3rd was my first attempt (aside from trying it on when it arrived in the mail). After some instruction and some tugging and pulling, I finally got the thing over my calves and butt and onto my body. (PHOTO RIGHT: Me trying to get the wetsuit on, I look happy don't I?).

The first thing I noted was how hot being in the wetsuit was. The temperature outside was toasty which is probably the cause. The second thing I noted was how tight and restrictive this thing was. However, once in the water, I was glad I had the warmth of the wetsuit. Also, having never been in the water with a wetsuit on, I didn't realize how buoyant these things are. I could actually lay on my back and float without moving!! That was very cool.

Off we went into the open water, pulling, pulling, pulling...not really kicking much and not really needing to, the wetsuit was a like a body-pull-buoy - it kept my legs on the surface and I was loving it. What I was not loving was how restrictive the arms were. I felt as though my arms weren't moving very much as the wetsuit kept trying to snap them back to my sides. I do have a sleeveless wetsuit for races and for practice when the weather and water warms up a bit, and I am excited to try it out so that my poor arms can move. (PHOTO LEFT: Finally, into my wetsuit - another small feat accomplished).

Sighting, it turns out, is not as difficult as I anticipated it would be. The water was, as expected and very "green". Swimming in the open water goes a lot more quickly than swimming in a pool where you are forced to change directions every 25 yards/meters. It is a little more challenging, but I love the change of scenery and the diversity open water swimming brings to the training process. Open water swim - check!