A local took a water temp reading this weekend at the end of the dock that read 45* (which is lower than the 55* the “official” posted water temp by the USGS). Further it appears that Spokane has record setting low temperatures the other night as it dipped down to 32*.
Any cold water advice? I had planned on sucking it up and swimming in my sleeveless wetsuit as I do not like the feel of neoprene on my arms when swimming (I do not need any help in messing-up my technique) and using either a neoprene cap and/or double swim caps.
oh please… this happen every year… people wondering about how to swim in cold lakes… Water will be fine by race week…dont worrie. It s always a record snowfalls every single year with record coldest lake bla bla bla bla bla
and come race day… it s always fine… just pee in your wetsuit and enjoy the smooth ride
Same thing happened in 2008 when I did this race. It warmed up to 59 degrees by race day after a record year of snowfall and melt from the mountains. I ended up wearing my neoprene cap and the socks are aloud if it is below 60 if i recall correctly. I don’t wear the socks b/c I think they actually slow you down, but that is just preference. I def recommend full suit and neoprene cap. It’ll warm up…be patient and stop freaking out! Afterall it will be warmer than IM SG sitting at 53…brr…that was one cold swim this year!
I pray for cold water at every race I do. I have done with neoprene cap and it’s ok, but I doubt it is necessary. The botties are a pain as they don’t seem to stay on me very well.
I swam in the SF bay during EFA and the water temps were around 55 or so. I wore a neoprene cap and no booties. I felt fine. I’d say go without the booties.
And the other thing that comes up every year is the fact that the water temperature has almost no relationship to warm/cold weather. One or two 32 degree nights in Coeur d’Alene won’t do a damn thing to a lake with almost a cubic mile of water. The far more relevant factor is the number of sunny days the area has. Solar radiation = heat = warmer water.
Booties are allowed if it is under 65. I wore neoprene cap and booties at Oceanside this year and the water was 59. I was not cold, but the booties did get water in them so I was planning on NOT using them for Cda, but I certainly will use the neoprene cap.
We didn’t have record snow fall this year. Winter actually sucked and was pretty mild. The spring however has been unusually cold and rainy. This prevents high mountain snow from clearing off and there will still be snow run-off in 4 weeks from the CW Natl Forest. I would expect colder than usual temps for the IM CDA.
not entirely accurate. The cold weather is preventing a lot of snow from melting higher up in the CW Natl Forest and Nezperce areas. I would expect a lot more run off in the next 4 weeks which will result in a unusually colder water temp for IMCDA.
Look, I just did IM SG and the water was 58. I used a second silicone cap under the standard issue cap, and I was fine. No booties, no neoprene cap.
Yes, it took a few minutes to get your face used to the cold water, but once going no problem.
Look, I just did IM SG and the water was 58. I used a second silicone cap under the standard issue cap, and I was fine. No booties, no neoprene cap.
Yes, it took a few minutes to get your face used to the cold water, but once going no problem.
I didn’t think the water at IMSG was bad at all, and I spent a LONG time in the water. Supposedly the USGS said it was 58, but I heard others say it was 55 when you got away from shore.
This was the same talk in 2008. Record snow fall from past winter and cooler springs. Snow was still melting, beaches were flooded two weeks before race, and think it even snowed in the higher mountain several weeks before the race. Race day temp water warmed to 59 and officials allowed socks and caps. I wore both and don’t think either had an effect on swim time, but not a swimmer. 59 was actually fine on race and I was almost getting warm near end of swim. I am used to warm southern water and use to think 65 degree F water was cold.
Now, I did think the 55 degree water when I did px swim was freaking cold. It took me a while to get in the water, my hands were cold, and I never warmed up. I was cold several hours later post swim and it was a beautiful day.
Water will warm fast as being that far west and north, you get plenty of sun. Dawn to dusk hours from 0415 - to ~2100.
