Open Water Swimming

135 watchers

1step2far Aug 2022 9:09pm, 9 Aug 2022 6,893 posts	0 1step2far Yay! DT I grew up in Pakefield, now live just up the coast.
Derby Tup Aug 2022 9:12pm, 9 Aug 2022 56,445 posts	0 Derby Tup Nice village
fraggle Aug 2022 12:33pm, 12 Aug 2022 3,393 posts	0 fraggle question for my fellow swimmers I have the Thames Half Marathon swim on sunday, its 5.5km and its forecast to be about 31C, and my start time is 11.20. There were only a few skins places available, so wetsuit is compulsory, as is a tow float, and I'm dithering about which wetsuit to wear. I have two wetsuits, both Blue70, one is a v cheap and cheerful 2mm thick suit, which doesn't have huge buoyancy benefits but does the job. I got it as my old wetsuit was more hole than suit, so needed something to try and see if it fitted. i recently bought a Helix wetsuit, which has thick neoprene with all the singing all dancing buoyancy panels, etc, which is great, but I'm worried about it being too warm on sunday. In training Ive been regularly flushing it though with lake water and haven't felt like I've overheated, but am very aware of you not being aware of it when it happens iyswim. Ive been allowed to wear pool shoes for the event, so not worried about soles of the feet getting burned, but any other top tips you can think of ?
fraggle Aug 2022 12:34pm, 12 Aug 2022 3,394 posts	0 fraggle oh and yes I will sunscreen up before I go
LindsD Aug 2022 10:26pm, 12 Aug 2022 56,257 posts	0 LindsD Not at all an expert, but would go with the thinner wetsuit I think
LazyDaisy Aug 2022 6:57am, 13 Aug 2022 36,518 posts	0 LazyDaisy No tips, but wishing you best of fraggle I loved my moonrise swim
fraggle Aug 2022 9:46am, 13 Aug 2022 3,395 posts	0 fraggle well its as if they read my mind - email overnight suggests that you should wear a wetsuit as you've trained in it, and the water temp is lower than lakes, etc and to flush with water regularly etc also to wear a thinner wetsuit if you have one - decision made then. they have also made it wetsuit optional, but I'll stick with wearing one, then I don't have to slather myself in sunscreen nerves are starting to kick in already this morning - eek
LindsD Aug 2022 10:38am, 13 Aug 2022 56,263 posts	0 LindsD Good luck!
fraggle Aug 2022 10:47am, 13 Aug 2022 3,396 posts	0 fraggle Thanks 😀
fraggle Aug 2022 11:17am, 13 Aug 2022 3,397 posts	0 fraggle poppyH are you still doing this tomorrow ? if so I'll wear a fetch buff at the start so you can spot me