Cold water swimming (trouble breathing)
114
Member
683 days
jerallen posted 27 weeks ago.
i had the same problem my first time in cold water. Trick is to do a fair amount of warming up 10-15 min before your main set, and also make sure to get in more open water practices in before your race as you will overcome the problem with practice. Also, you are using a wetsuit right?
3337
Member
1325 days
RV posted 27 weeks ago.
That is fairly common in really cold water. I had an issue with it in a race once.
Using multiple swim caps or a neoprene one will help with it.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
59
Member
478 days
trimas posted 27 weeks ago.
Agree with jerallen, get in the water AT LEAST 10-15 minutes before and do some warm-up sets, and a couple of hard sets. I had this happen to me last year at a triathlon where they almost canceled the swim due to the water temp. I was able to get into the water 30 minutes before my wave started and it REALLY helped. The first 5-10 minutes were exactly as you described, plus I was a little dizzy at first. Then I became more acclimated and felt fine.
Another trick is to blow bubbles BEFORE doing any swim sets. Go waist deep into the water and submerge your face to blow bubbles. This helps alleviate the shock of the cold water. What happens is that when the cold water hits your face, the shock causes your lungs to contract causing breathing problems.
189
Member
251 days
scottbland247 posted 27 weeks ago.
I'll try that.....i don't have a wetsuit, and although I don't own a swim cap, they give me one for the race....
I guess that I assumed getting in the cold water for awhile ahead of time would make my muscles freeze up (pardon the pun) but I didn't take into account the time necessary for my body to get over the shock of the cold water....
I've got 3 more satrudays (or maybe 2) to get some early morning open water swims in before the race so i'm hoping that will help
thanks for the advice everyone
It is better to hurt from doing something than from doing nothing...
First Triathlon (400m/20k/2.75mile) 1:39.15 including 33 minutes in the water
768
Member
796 days
tsilcyc posted 27 weeks ago.
How cold is the water?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
20
Member
204 days
buckeyeben posted 27 weeks ago.
Our bodies have an inhale reflex in cold water. I have trouble with this even when the water isn't really freezing, but a little chilly. The early warmup has helped me in the past. I have the same big fear with my upcoming California 70.3 which is in cold water. It's a bummer for me in that I can't get in any open water swimming here in Ohio leading up to Cal 70.3 due to the icy water.
I'm wondering if anyone can vouch for vasaline helping with this inhale reflex?
Micah 6:8
768
Member
796 days
tsilcyc posted 27 weeks ago.
This is just what I've heard so take it with a grain of salt. But I've heard that vasoline provides a layer of insulation. I don't know if it would but I think if you felt warmer that it would. I don't think it's something you want touching your wetsuit though.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
1636
Member
1002 days
768
Member
796 days
tsilcyc posted 27 weeks ago.
I have no idea... I don't think I'd use it unless I was only swimming, without a wetsuit, and the water was REALLY cold.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
189
Member
251 days
scottbland247 posted 27 weeks ago.
just for arguments sake, i live in orlando (yeah i know, a floridian whining about cold weather.....all ribbing henceforth is justly deserved)
water was like 50's-60's that time of morning......which coupled with the condition of the water, felt like swimming in my unsweet tea from chik-fil-a
(unrelated......their breakfast burrito is ridiculous good.....is it a million calories?)
It is better to hurt from doing something than from doing nothing...
First Triathlon (400m/20k/2.75mile) 1:39.15 including 33 minutes in the water
768
Member
796 days
tsilcyc posted 27 weeks ago.
Each person has their own tolerance level. For me, I get that sudden rush in the low 50's. Once I get moving at a decent pace, I can overcome the cold but I have to be in a wetsuit. I've seen people hop in the same water with just a speedo and have no problems at all. That's insane to me.
As a side note... "Swimming to Antarctica" by Lynne Cox is an EXCELLENT book. Talk about swimming in COLD water...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
189
Member
251 days
scottbland247 posted 27 weeks ago.
i'll look it up....sounds interesting......thanks for the recommendation
It is better to hurt from doing something than from doing nothing...
First Triathlon (400m/20k/2.75mile) 1:39.15 including 33 minutes in the water
71
Member
719 days
usasportstrain posted 27 weeks ago.
trimas wrote:
Another trick is to blow bubbles BEFORE doing any swim sets. Go waist deep into the water and submerge your face to blow bubbles. This helps alleviate the shock of the cold water. What happens is that when the cold water hits your face, the shock causes your lungs to contract causing breathing problems.
I've never heard of that before. That's a great tip! Thanks.
http://www.usasportstraining.com - Triathlon Training Gear, DVDs, Books
217
Member
143 days
iamtb13 posted 20 weeks ago.
When the body gets in water that it feels is "too cold" - all the blood rushes to protect your vital organs and out of your extremities. (Your head is an extremity too). That is the cause for the fuzzy brain and limbs that don't work. It also limits breathing for the same reasons.
The best thing you can do is get your body used to cold water over time. It takes time but if you keep exposing your body to colder water, it will get more used to it. If you don't have open water to get used to it - think cold shower. (There are people who can swim in artic water without a wetsuit. I am not one of them.) Otherwise, just get in the water way before your race and really warm up. Vaseline or Glide will help protect exposed skin but you don't want Vaseline on your wetsuit. Skull cap, extra swim caps and booties also help somewhat.
If you think of how a wetsuit works (it traps a layer of water against your body and the suit) you can actually "fill" your wetsuit before you swim with warm water. Soak it in warm water right before your swim and the layer of water will already be trapped and warm (and won't need your body to warm it up). Find warm water before a race can be a little difficult. (And please don't use boiling water!!) but this does makea big difference.
Good luck.
81
Member
237 days
M posted 20 weeks ago.
I am in for two cold swims this year. A sprint on Sunday and a half in June. The sprint will be a good chance to see how I deal with it (mid-50s water, I think). I'll be in a wetsuit and using multiple caps, and definitely getting in early and trying the bubbles. The Vaseline trick doesn't directly affect anything, it just gives you an extra layer of "whale blubber" that helps insulate. Another thing I've encountered on another site is the suggestion to use earplugs (presumably wax ones). I guess keeping freshly cold water from continually washing into the ears may allow your head to lose less heat. I think I will ultimately spring for a neoprene cap. As for booties and/or gloves, you may want to check the rules for your event before counting on them. For my half, I am fairly certain that anything on the hands/feet is prohibited in the swim...presumably because it could be a slippery slope to people using things with webbing between fingers/toes.
I took my first open water swim in a lake today in preparation for my first tri about a month from now. It was so cold, and I literally had trouble exhaling...is that strange? How do I overcome that problem?
It is better to hurt from doing something than from doing nothing...
First Triathlon (400m/20k/2.75mile) 1:39.15 including 33 minutes in the water