I was at the Chatfield gravel pit the other night for a training swim (BTW, swim is going really well; raced last night and finished 750m in 13 min.!). I was swimming a bit with this lady who hated to wear goggles and never wore them in fresh open water (she wears goggles in the pool and I’m assuming for any ocean swims). She said that it was easier to sight without goggles. Given the goggle mishaps that can happen with a mass open water swim start, I was wondering whether anyone else here races without goggles?
At Buffalo Springs Lake in 2003, I forgot my goggles at the hotel and I didn’t have any problems in the swim, nevertheless I would swim with goggles any time.
nope. it would be very tough. big issue would be contacts washing out.
otherwise i guess it would be possible without the contacts but then i’d just have to feel my way around. does salt water sting in the eyes much?
I have swum without goggles a fair bit in open water and it is easier to site. However, it can lead to itchy eyes afterwards depending on how much pollen, etc., is in the water. I wouldn’t do a long race without them for that reason, as well as the protection that goggles provide to your eyes from other people’s feet, elbows, and big splashes.
I did swim one lap at IMLP in 2001 without goggles after they were kicked off of my face and hung around my neck.
-Danielle
I’ve tried it a few times and didn’t really like having to close my eyes while swimming (even though I can’t see much with goggles anyway). I also have contacts so…
Was that one of the aurora aquathlons? Cool, nice work. btw, I went for my first run yesterday since the accident and felt marginally ok - not too bad. Although the run at the July 26 aquathlon and Boulder Peak are going to be ugly I think I’m in for both at least in terms of being able to finish. I’m going to slowly try to build some running between now and then.
“…does salt water sting in the eyes much?”
Does a bear s*** in the woods?
McCormack didn’t use goggles at UK 70.3 and he came out of the water in a pretty good time I’d say.
He said his goggles were fogging. 
It isn’t an option for me as I wear contact lenses. But Matt Reed didn’t wear goggles this past weekend at Elite Nationals (I didn’t see as I was to the far right at the swim start, but my training partner said he didn’t) and that was in cold salt water in Long Beach.
Last year I did an olympic distance race and my goggles broke right before the swim start. It was tricky with contacts, I had to keep my eyes closed and zig zagged a bit.
I had a similar situation. Went for an open-water practice swim and forgot my goggle, so I swam without them. It took a bit of adjusting, but I ended up liking it.
As luck would have it, my goggles got kicked into my right eye during my next race, and the suction was so tight I just pulled them down around my neck and finished without them. Having practiced without goggles so recently kept me from panicking during the race. Now, before each race I do at least part of my last swim workout without goggles, just in case.
I would not, however, recommend this in salt water, and yes pollen, etc. can be a problem.
lisa: “dad… you have to put chlorine in the water!”
homer: “Chloriiine eh?”
next day, Ralph jumps into the pool…
ralph: “my eyes are burning!”
Yes, it was the Aurora aquathon. There’s another one on 7/18 at Cherry Creek. I’m going to do the 1500 in prep for Boulder Peak.
Good to hear you’re back on the road and will be in for the Peak.
he he
.
At one of the hudson river swims in new york city one of the top women swimmers there wasn’t wearing goggles. Salty water there too.
I always TRAIN with goggles on in open water however, I have had them fog up, get kicked off, and reflect the sun so as I could not see the course bouys during races.
Just before a race I was pulling my goggles on and, “Snap,” they broke. I swam without(eyes open) and have never gone back to racing with them. It is just one less thing to worry about.
Disclaimer:I do not wear contacts, I do not swim in salt water, and they now have anti-glare lenses for swimming in to the sun.
I still maintain that it is way eaiser to sight the course without them then with them.
Good luck and fast racing.