The local news reported that more than 20 people hyped out at IMCDA. I see the big thread about how choppy the lake was, but how is it possible to get hypothermic with a wetsuit on?
on bike
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The water was 60 and there were a lot of people who wore sleeveless suits and were in there for more than 90 minutes. Then the air temp was <55 and it was windy.
Jodi
There was a guy standing in front of me at the swim start, wearing only a speedo (no wetsuit). I would be surprised if he didn’t end up with hypothermia.
There was a guy standing in front of me at the swim start, wearing only a speedo (no wetsuit). I would be surprised if he didn’t end up with hypothermia.
I saw him come out of the water. He looked good. You failed to mention the extra, eh em “insulation” that he had…you are kind.
i wonder if that was the same guy I passed halfway thru the swim, he was a bit heavier and wearing only jammers. If i wasn’t swimming, my jaw would have dropped in awe.
Huh. I hadn’t thought of hypothermia on the bike. And I wouldn’t have thought that anyone would be swimming without a wetsuit. (Though I don’t think a sleeveless wetsuit would lead to hypothermia, either.)
Is this a common occurence at IM? The hypothermia, I mean, not people swimming w/o a wetsuit.
I would say very common for IMs that are historically very hot (CdA and Moo) and then one year it’s butt cold. People don’t bring the right gear and suffer for it. It’s a gamble with any tri with a very cold swim. A ton of people have gotten hypothermia at Oceanside in the past few years (but this year was warm, thankfully)
I was actually wearing a sleeveless tri-suit on the bike at CdA and was never cold. But I’m from the great white north. And I was only in the water for 1:13.
Jodi
“How is it possible to get hypothermic with a wetsuit on?”
It’s easy. Go swim / struggle / thrash for 60 to 120 minutes in 62-degree water: That might make you cold, if you have low body fat or a sleeveless suit. Then strip off the suit in 50-degree air with a 15-20 mph wind, making for a 30-35 degree wind chill. That ***will ***make you cold, whovever you are. I remember when I was a lifeguard, they said any water colder than 80 would make people hypothermic.
** I remember when I was a lifeguard, they said any water colder than 80 would make people hypothermic.**
Yeah, in three days. Sheesh.
62 degree water is not cold, even without sleeves. The 50 degree air with a 20 mph wind might be, if you’re wet. I can see that.
Anyone know if any of the hypothermiacs got back in the race after warming up?
1:13
No body likes a show off:)
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I was hoping for 1:05, but I would have been happy with 1:45 in those conditions. I have never been so damn happy to get OUT of water!
Jodi
Check out all the race reports and posts on Ironman Wisconsin last year (2006). It was 55 and rained non-stop all day and night. Lots of people with hypothermia on the bike – most people didn’t wear enough clothes, including me. I was soaked and shivering all day. Next time I race long in those conditions I am going to take more clothes and food. Riding 112 miles in the cold wind, soaking wet is a recipe for hypothermia. If you had a flat it was trouble also – you would never get warmed back up.
So, yes it is an occurence, common – no.