GF and I are doing a 1/2 IM this weekend (Little Smokies). We decided to break out the wetsuits for some open water training. We hit the lake (Pleasant) around noon on Sunday. The water was plenty warm and we swam about 30 minutes before heading out for a 12 mile run. It was hot and humid for the run, so when we got back, we jumped back in the lake with only our running stuff on. It was very refreshing and not cold at all.
Where is Lake Pleasant?
I did Columbia on Sunday and it was the first time I got to swim in a wetsuit, ever. Wow!!! what a difference. I couldn’t believe how much more bouyant I was. I love open water swimming and now I’ll love it a lot more.
Pleasant Lake is a small (tiny) lake in West Bloomfield, MI. At Halstead Rd. and Walnut Lake Rd.
How was Columbia? Where did the swim take place? Was the bike course windy? I looked at the results and the bike times weren’t as fast as I would have expected them to be.
The swim left the dock heading east and looped around west to the transition, I guess that’s Centennial Lake. The first section of the swim was tough because of the sun glare. I probably stopped 4-5 times and lifted up my goggles to see. I don’t think the bike was windy at all, but the run got kinda steamy towards the end. I’ve never been to a race with more than 400 people so I tought it was real cool. It was really well organized and the support was great. Definitly going back next year. Oh, yea, it was cool seeing Peter Reid race. Here I thought I was getting into good shape, then you get to see what someone who’s really in good shape can do on a course.
This past week i left the pool to do my first open water swim of the season in a local pond, and it was my first swim in my QR wetsuit, now, i’m not a good swimmer, just learning, but damn what a difference, i felt like i was really moving!! Now to put it all in perspective my training partner swims an IM swim in 52 minutes, and she has to constantly “swim back” to check up on me, and i can’t draft off her for more than 1 or 2 minutes before getting dropped like a bad habit, but hey, what can you do? Anyway praise Slowman for inventing the first triathlon wetsuit!!
I’m planing to do two swim/run bricks this weekend at Stony Creek (Shelby Twsp). I’m glad to hear that the water temp is not to bad up there. The lake temps here in Northern VA are bath like, it seems like since mid April we’ve been in the 80’s each day and only going down to the mid 60’s at night.
Dave from VA
Has anyone been out to Springmill pond yet (Island lake)?
I’m planing to do two swim/run bricks this weekend at Stony Creek (Shelby Twsp). I’m glad to hear that the water temp is not to bad up there. The lake temps here in Northern VA are bath like, it seems like since mid April we’ve been in the 80’s each day and only going down to the mid 60’s at night.
Dave from VA
I think you just gave me a great idea!
I was planning to do a bike-run brick saturday morning in Stony Creek (Shelby Twp.-MI) and a long ride sunday… followed by a swim - a good tune-up for next weekend’s Seahorse Challenge.
I was riding in Island Lake on Sunday afternoon and saw a group swimming in there. They were wearing wetsuits, mostly, so I’d assume it’s still a bit cold. I’m hoping to ride out there tomorrow morning for a swim.
-J
I was at spring mill pond on Wednesday afternoon. Water temp was 68 deg F. Very easy to swim in with a full suit. I’ll be at Trout Lake (Island Lake rec area also) on sat morn where I hear the temp is in the 70’s.
jaretj
Holy arm warmers!! I just checked weather.com and it said the temps tomorrow morning are going to be a bit chilly. It’s going to be 51°F at 9am! Ugh. Riding home wet in the cold does not sound like fun.
-J
I meant the water temp is in the 70’s. I’ve really got to watch what I’m writing.
jaretj
Is Pleasant Lake open to the public? While I have not investigated this thoroughly, most of the West Bloomfield lakes that I go by seem to have limited access.
I don’t think Pleasant Lake is open to the public. I swim from my sister’s condo association’s dock. It’s a nice little lake though. No motor boats allowed, so there are only a few electric pontoon boats.
I would have been more surprised if it were open to the public.
Good luck with the race and avoiding Ohio troopers looking for cars with Michigan plates on the way there.
Thanks. I am not looking forward to the drive, but the race sounds very interesting.
A group of us will do open water training at Pleasant Lake every so often. Send me a PM with your email, etc. and I will let you know when we are going, and you are welcome to join us.
A few of us were at Springmill pond yesterday and the water was fine. I had on a full but a friend of mine only had a sleeve less and he was a little child after an hour or so. The water is crystal clear even after all the rain in the past week or so. If anyone is heading out there on Sunday let me know, I’m always looking to get some extra open water swimming in.
Where is this pond? near Kensington?