April 28, 2008 / by srhernan / Make A Comment / Filed under Lake Monsters, Swim Reports
At 6:15am on Saturday, April 26, 2008, we did our first “test immersion” into the lake. The water was a crisp 51F, but smooth as glass. The air temperature was hovering at 44F which made things a bit “shivery” upon exit. But we had our hot tea, and we managed to coax the sun into making a much welcomed appearance. Congratulations to Gregory, who officially became Lake Monster #2!
Just a few quick notes/observations:
- The progressive cold shower technique really helps prepare your body for 51F water. I had no cold shock response at all, and I experienced no rise in heart rate or respiration during the 15 minutes I was in the water.
- The cold water gear setup worked exceptionally well – especially the ONeill Thermo-X shirt. In fact, I would highly recommend getting one of these if you tend to get cold easily like I do. They do an excellent job of insulating your torso and keeping your body heat within your “core.” Plus, I’ve done longer swims with it, and I’ve found that it doesn’t limit your swim range of motion at all.
- Definitely use petroleum jelly on the exposed parts of your face and neck. It does make a difference.
- The most challenging part was the 5-10 minutes immediately upon exiting the water. I didn’t experience any shivering or discomfort until that point. Be sure to keep some dry layers of clothing handy as well as a thermos of hot coffee or tea.
Overall, though, it was a fantastic first swim! Keep reading for more details on the next scheduled event.
April 23, 2008 / by Steve / Make A Comment / Filed under Tips & Techniques
In a prior post, I outlined the the “cold shock” response that the human body experiences during a sudden immersion into cold water. To recap, a person who has not properly prepared in advance for a cold water swim will experience a rather “rude awakening” upon entry into the water characterized by rapid, uncontrollable breathing (the “gasp reflex”) as well as an immediate increase in blood pressure and heart rate due to a sudden constriction of the capillaries under the skin. This is not a pleasant experience.
One way to minimize or avoid this response is to prepare the body in advance by using the “progressive cold shower” technique outlined in the above link. Another way of effectively managing the risk of cold water immersion shock is to take advantage of the “mammalian diving reflex.”
The mammalian diving reflex (MDR) is a universal physiological reflex found in all vertebrates, but it is more pronounced in marine mammals such as dolphins, seals, and whales. The MDR is essentially triggered by a combination of breath holding and of cold water exposure to the face. Once triggered, the MDR causes a bradycardia response (lowered heart rate), and it restricts one’s peripheral blood flow while preserving it for one’s brain and vital organs. In essence, the MDR is a protective mechanism for mammals (humans included) in cold water immersion situations.
The key takeaway here is that you can use the MDR to further minimize any potential cold water immersion shock. Instead of testing the water with your hands or feet, start out first by placing your face or head into the water while holding your breath. This will trigger the MDR and make it much easier when you decide to “take the plunge.”
April 19, 2008 / by Steve / Make A Comment / Filed under Event Alert
There are a number of really cool triathlons that take place in the Great Lakes, but the gold standard in my opinion is the Great Lakes Escape Triathlon. It’s held in early September in Marblehead, Ohio (near Sandusky) and it’s designed to give you an experience similar to the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
The overwhelmingly awesome highlight of the Great Lakes Escape Triathlon is the swim start. You board a Jet Express ferry which takes you out in the middle of Lake Erie among the Lake Erie Islands. You then jump into the open water along with a few hundred other intrepid souls and do a 1.5K point-to-point swim to the beach:
The swim alone is worth signing up for this event. If you’re not a runner or a cyclist, you can recruit a couple of friends and register as a relay team (with you doing the swim part, of course). But if you are into triathlons, this is an awesome Great Lakes destination event. Check it out!
April 17, 2008 / by srhernan / 9 Comments / Filed under Fitness & Training
** NOTE **
I am currently consolidating all of the physical training recommendations (along with a lot of other really great stuff) into a forthcoming new media project, Power Law Fitness. Please refer to this site for the most up to date information on this topic. Thanks!
April 14, 2008 / by srhernan / Make A Comment / Filed under Great Lakes
As I am sure you all know, we have been experiencing unusually cold weather in April. Since the surface temperatures of the water at our beaches have been remaining in the 38F – 43F range, I’ll probably bump our first get together up to the last week of April. Even then, I expect us to be at the very floor of swimmability, temperature-wise.
April 9, 2008 / by Steve / Make A Comment / Filed under Great Lakes
As part of an effort to keep Chicago’s beaches and swimming areas clean, I will be scheduling intermittent beach visits to conduct tests on the water and to remove trash from one of our coveted “swimming holes,” Ohio Street Beach.
Informally known as the “triathlete’s beach,” Ohio Street Beach is a small sliver of sand just north of Navy Pier. During the warmer months of the summer, the Chicago Park District supplies buoys and swim lane markers that run parallel to the concrete embankment. It is the primary spot in Chicago for open water swimming, and most of the local endurance sports groups plan their group training sessions at this beach.
Unfortunately, however, the park district allows recreational boats to congregate off of the beach during the summer in an area dubbed the “Playpen”:
The problem with the “Playpen” is that many of the revelers on the boats use the lake as an impromptu garbage can. In fact, it is pretty much assured that after any big holiday weekend, swimmers will have to navigate through a swirling mess of non-biodegradable items that were carelessly tossed into the water by these irresponsible individuals.
Through the “Adopt-a-Beach” program run by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, I plan to coordinate these efforts with some of the local athletic organizations as well, since we all have a vested interest in keeping the water safe and clean. I will provide more details in future posts, so keep reading!
April 7, 2008 / by Steve / Make A Comment / Filed under Event Alert
If you really want a “signature event” to cap off your summer, it’s hard to beat the Alcatraz Challenge, which takes place in San Francisco Bay on August 23, 2008.
I did the swim/run in 2006, and I can tell you that it is an exceptionally well organized event and a total blast to do. I even tied a waterproof disposable camera to my wetsuit lanyard and got some fantastic “water level” shots:
But you had best act soon – I just checked out the registration page, and they already have over 330 swimmers signed up! From what I recall, they typically limit it to around 600 swimmers. So check it out before it’s too late!
April 5, 2008 / by srhernan / Make A Comment / Filed under Extreme!
Here’s a great photo of Russian free-diver, Julia Petrik, catching a free lift from a Beluga Whale in the -2ºC (28ºF) waters of the White Sea.
April 4, 2008 / by srhernan / 10 Comments / Filed under Fitness & Training
** NOTE **
I am currently consolidating all of the physical training recommendations (along with a lot of other really great stuff) into a forthcoming new media project, Power Law Fitness. Please refer to this site for the most up to date information on this topic. Thanks!
