Swimming

I have a complex prescription that needs a bit more than off the shelf prescription googles, although I guess I'll give the closest off the shelf version a try since something is better than nothing...

Starting to click a bit with the swimming lately, tagged along to a low key invite only (for safety reasons) local race on Saturday, first time lake swimming, managed second overall with an average pace of 1:37/100m for 1,350m. Out this morning in the sea and felt comfortable cruising at 1:47/100m for 1,650m.

Final sprint tri of the season on Sunday and doing a 3.9km open water race mid September and that’ll be me almost ready to relax for a couple of weeks before returning to the pool for winter.

I've found http://www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk helpful locating the nearest off the peg examples by emailing them my prescription in the past

Any tips on anti fog? Both my prescription sets now very prone to fog

I use the tiniest amount of washing up liquid and polish it with a lens cloth. When I say tiniest I mean a smear, no more.

I put a bit of toothpaste in, which then goes in my eyes at the slightest hint of moisture

I usually lick the lenses and wash them in the water before swimming and that keeps them from fogging up

I've always wiped the inside of my goggles with some spit, and then rinsed it all with the water I'll be swimming in.

Wrenched my shoulder doing kneeboarding in France last week and did very little swimming. 12 days until a 2 mile open water swim and I'd probably struggle to do 800m tonight in the pool, we will see...

Wrenched my shoulder

Of course that shoulder is fine, the other one was giving me gyp and I bailed at 400m.

Getting back up to 3200m in 12 days is going to be very interesting...

And postponed: https://twitter.com/SwimSerpentine/status/1569327022505185284

(Secretly glad as I wasn't fit enough.)

10k swim in 2 months to get ready for now.

Last push for the season, won my wave by a decent margin, and caught a good chunk of the elite field who had a 5 min head start on us. I should have entered the elite race.

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Wow. That’s quite a swim! 1:34 / per 100m? Fair rocketing along!

Yeah pretty content with that, but still 10 mins off the front of the elite race so some work to do!

Noticed this morning some tears forming on the left armpit of my <4 month old zone3 advance suit, but thankfully the shop are refunding it as they have none in stock as replacements.

I had read about zone3 suits wearing prematurely but I’m quite shocked at how quickly it’s worn.

Any suggestions on a tougher alternative? I have an entry level orca suit that’ll be back in action for the remaining few weeks of leisurely swims but keeping an eye out for something for next season.

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Padstow to Rock swim

Are you entering this for next year?

What distance is it - Not sure if I should enter the elite wave (30 mins or less) or the standard wave.

Also - having to print our and post the entry form. JHFC.

Nope, not planning on being down there at that time this year.

It's somewhere under a mile if you follow the advice of where to aim. It's about a mile if you get dragged to the East by the current and have to battle your way back to Rock through the moored boats.

In 2021 the first 10 minutes were fine, but then the wind picked up and it was pretty choppy. I entered the Elite wave having no problem doing 1 mile in 30 mins but ended up taking ~40 minutes. Lots of veterans saying that it was a tough year and much slower than normal given the conditions.

There's no timing but I did see a few people in the Elite wave being picked up by boats for being too slow or just being pushed too far East too early. I managed to avoid that and swim the whole thing.

https://www.strava.com/activities/5786284284 - the correct route is straighter on and curving in right to the slipway at Rock. There are buoys to aim at but I was led astray by some others that seemed to know what they were doing, until it was clear they didn't.

Nice one - thanks.

You can see where your pace drops off in the deeper channels!

What HRM are you using - I quite like the idea of seeing my HR rocketing while I'm floundering.

[Edit]

It starts here I take?

Garmin Forerunner 945 with a HRM strap (can't remember whether it was my HRM-Tri or HRM-Swim - probably the latter under the wetsuit).

It starts here I take?

Yep, the check-in (day before or morning of, can't remember) was at the Sea Cadets hut and then you dump your drop bags outside. They had the standard warning about valuables in the drop bags but pretty much everyone had put phones/wallets/etc in their drop bag so they could pay for the ferry to get back over.

Storing wetsuits for winter (because I’m a winter pool swimmer): how and where?

Currently have mine and the wife’s folded carefully and stored in a plastic storage container, both fully dry before storing. Last winter I’m pretty sure I just left my wetsuit in a bag somewhere, but I’ve a new expensive orca I haven’t used yet and would like it to last the full season next year!

I hang mine with a suit bag over it.

And talc, because old school.

Firstly - ok to hang from the shoulders like a jacket?

Secondly - why talc?

Firstly - ok to hang from the shoulders like a jacket?

Doesn't appear to have harmed it, as far as I can tell

Secondly - why talc?

Olden times neoprene &rubber would stick to itself, particularly the smooth surface stuff. Force of habit, really.

Is anyone on here doing the polar bear challenge?
I was on track for arctic polar bear but the lake’s frozen!

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Good work. I haven't been in since mid-October and probably won't get in until the Xmas break, so I'm a bit concerned about how the temperature's plummeting!

I did a few years ago. Somewhat relived I'm not this year. Haven't been in since early November this year