I've had a few swimmer friends ask privately how to extend their swim season beyond the normal summer swims and I thought I'd condense my thoughts on the matter to help you extend your swim season beyond Memorial Day and push well into the Winter Season.
Mind you, I do not swim open water year round. I generally draw the line once ice forms on fresh water and transition to the chlorine and swim lanes. I open water swim generally up to December depending upon the season and am back in the water in March/April. I own a wetsuit and all other manner of cold water swim accouterments to extend my season but my wetsuit is not a fleece lined winter suit. I can stay warm through about 30 degrees Fahrenheit and then I'm out.
Some general advice tips as you extend your season:
1. Get Accustomed to Cold: It does get easier, I swear. I do think you have to have a temperament for cold water but let me assure you, I'm always cold and I still get in cold New England waters. You just have to do it. I'm a huge fan of the scrub down with water and blowing bubbles in the water to help your lungs acclimate before you dive in especially into 30 degree-40 degree water. There are physiological and psychological reactions to cold water swimming. Check out Lone Swimmer's Blog Post on the first three minutes of a cold water swim to understand the physiological effects of a cold water swim.
It also helps to have an outspoken British friend who mocks you if you wear your wetsuit too early in the season. (Ahem, DA). Don't be afraid to get to know your body in cold. How do you react after 10 minutes in the water? 20 minutes in the water? What is your cold threshold? For me, as I mentioned, it's about 30 degrees Farenheit before I'm longing for a hot sauna, hot coffee, and for the shaking to stop. At that point, extremities are too cold for my comfort and I get nervous. Challenge your threshold, get out there long after the summer beachers have left, and test your limits safely.
2. Wear a Watch- Keep Track of Time : Similar to knowing how you'll react to cold water, wear a watch. As we all know, you can lose track of time. Hell, I lose track of time in a pool but in open water colder swimming, its good to have a watch on to know how long you've been in the water.
3 . Be Prepared: I've had some backlash from wild swimming purists claiming you don't need gear to enjoy a wild swim (that is absolutely true!) but if you are going to be swimming in cold New England open water into the Fall and Winter, you need to be educated, prepared, and have appropriate gear for your safety. I avoid a wetsuit most of the year but come November/December, I bust it out along with neoprene booties, double caps, neoprene hood, and gloves. I take warm up seriously for my own comfort. Dress appropriately, even if you aren't going for a long swim make sure you have enough food fuel in your tank, and check the weather forecast/surf forecast. I don't mess around with hypothermia nor should you for the sake of wild swimming purity.
4. Know the signs of Hypothermia : When I first started swimming I had no idea about cold water swimming, acclimatization, vaso-constriction, and air temp and water temp correlations. I relied on the wonderful blog, Lone Swimmer for their thoughts and insight into all medical/health insight. Mind you, they are another blogger. Our advice is absolutely not meant to be taken as medical advice or construed as such. If you have question, seek medical advice but Lone Swimmer provides wonderful laymen explanations for all that you can wonder about Cold Water Swimming.
5. Never Underestimate the value of Swim Buddy or On-Shore Companion : As always, I'm a huge advocate for having someone on shore, especially during cold water swims to keep an eye on you. I actually in colder water swims will frequently head into shore, check in with my on-shore buddy, have them ask cognitive questions (what day of the week is it, simple cognition, and visual spot check) and then swim out again.
6. Numb Toes : Avoid the inevitable bruises, cuts, and general unpleasant foot damage after a cold water swim when you can't feel your toes, invest in a pair of neoprene booties or have a pair of sandals on shore to spare your poor toes in case you are braving a colder swim without gear. Remember that the ground will be colder than the water in the colder winter months so cold feets are inevitable. Prepare ahead.
7. Warm Up Slowly and Properly : Just as you should be prepared for the cold water, you should also be prepared for after the swim. For really cold swims, I prep hot water bottle and warm water in a thermos. It helps warm up my clothes and my towel post swim. Contrary to popular thought, a warm drink, albeit comforting, won't help raise your core temperature. I don't dwadle after I get out, I strip out of my wetsuit if we wearing one and transition to warm clothes. If possible, get out of your wet suit and transition to warmer clothes within 5 minutes. It seems like a no-duh tip but bring warm clothes that will help you transition from the cold sea to air temp comfortably. I generally keep thick wool socks in my car, extra blankets, and other clothes like sweaters to warm up post swim. Think about what you would wear skiing or in other winter sports. Avoid jeans and any material that generally retains moisture or is slow to dry. Slowly get your body temp back up and move your body to get blood flowing.
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Now after you read this list, I'm sure you're thinking why would I ever want to extend my swim season if I have to worry about gear, hypothermia, cold water acclimatization, and bruised toes? Post-Summer Swimming in New England is some of my favorite swimming times of the year. The beaches are nearly empty, the water has had the summer to warm, and more often then not, it's only you (and if you're lucky) your fellow open water swimmers out in the open water, enjoying the refreshing cold water. Its energizing, revitalizing, and it does have health benefits, apart from the apparent environmental factors you need to consider.
As the summer season dwindles and we miss out on our Vitamin D fix, open water swimming in the Fall into Winter helps us extend the outdoors a little bit longer and combats the daylight savings time drear.
Be safe, enjoy the Wild Swimming Season all and stop by the Wild Swimming New England Facebook Page to tell us about your open water swims.