The first OWS of 2010 is in the books!

[rocknrollgirl]

And in a word it was...brrrhhhhh....

The water was probably around 62 ish. I had to gird my loins to get in, but once I got going, it was ok. Chilly when I got out.

First tri is in three weeks, and I betcha lots of people will be hitting the open water for the first time of the season.

Bring it!!!!!!

woo hoo!

[HillSlugger]

I did my first yesterday. They said the water was 58F but it didn't seem so bad and I didn't have any problem putting my face in the water. Either I'm getting much better at all of this, or maybe I'm just getting crazier.

My sighting was pretty good, but my ability to stay on course was poor.

I race next Sunday so this will be my only practice.

[roadie gal]

We still have ice on the local lakes. I'll be lucky to get in one OWS before my first tri in June.

Owlice, did you have a wetsuit on? 62 is VERY chilly (to me).

[rocknrollgirl]

I had a wetsuit on, for sure.

MD, I have raced in 58 degree water, and it causes brain freeze! If it does not hurt to put your head and face in, it was probably in the low 60's.


Last year, I tried to swim in the Bay at Acadia National Park in Maine at the end of June. I thought I was tough enough to do it. Not! The locals watched me go in, wetsuit and all and just shook their heads. I lasted about 300 yards. DH was paddling next to me in a kayak and almost had to pull me out. I could not get past the "gasp" refelx. Darn mammalian responses! I won't try that again.

[Tri Girl]

You ladies are brave (or crazy).
I won't OWS until mid to late May. And I'm a lot further down on the latitude lines!

Great job- can't say I wish I were OWS just yet, tho.

[salsabike]

Nice. I love OWS season.

[colby]

Jealous... a week ago when we had a week's worth of temps in the 70s the lake got up to 53 degrees, but it's back down to 46 now. That said, I'm really hopeful that this is a good sign the water won't be 56 degrees for Ironman. Or 58. Or 60. How about 65? Something warm? Too greedy. I'd settle for over 60. Anything else is gravy.

I have swam in the water down to that 55 or so degree mark, and the first IM I did it was somewhere close to 56-58, last year something like 62. There is a HUGE difference in that 4-6 degrees! I noticed it most in my ears, the pressure felt like a headache coming from deep inside with such cold water. I wore a neoprene cap under my swim cap, which did make a big difference, though I think I'd have made it without it, it reduced the pounding headache feeling.

[rocknrollgirl]

I agree about the temp difference. It does not seem like that much, but low 60's is tolerable and upper 50's is brutal.