I know that I need to spend more time swimming in open water and I’ve been doing it by myself without a lifeguard around. I usually don’t know when I’m going to have time to fit in one of these workouts, so I just hop in my car with my wetsuit and head down to a local lake. I wear my wetsuit, which does provide plenty of flotation, but I am curious as to what anyone else does when they swim alone. So, anyone ever tow a flotation device with them when swimming alone? Anyone have any other ideas?
They have Land Sharks, I saw them on Saturday Night News…so, I’m sure they have Lake Sharks, and even Pond Sharks. Even if they don’t, they have Pond Scum! The HORROR!
I have been doing the same thing and have never been real comfortable with it even though I swim parallel to the shoreline. The previous poster was correct, it’s not a very smart idea but trying to organize group swims is tough. I’m like you I just go when the oppurtunity presents itself and probably should stop doing it but I would likely get very few OW swims in as there are not a lot of triathletes where I live.
I do the same thing and have for a couple of years now. The wetsuit gives plenty of bouyancy, especially when you flip over on your back. Even if there was a life guard present and you yelled (say you had a heart attack) by the time they get there you are toast anyway. A cramp or something similar you float. There are still times that I think about it, not too often. I personally always wear a bright bathing cap and the lake I swim in is a no wake lake to I don’t have to worry about some idiot on a jetski or boat running me over. I have had one guy come by in the boat to see if I was alright - followed me the rest of my swim!
A long time ago, back when I was in college, I could swim 10,000 yards in a pool in 1:50 or so. I only mention this because I would never ever swim in open water by myself. It is extremely dangerous. One good gulp of water, and you could drown. I almost DQed out of a 200 butterfly once because I caught a good gulp of water coming up on a turn and almost had to stop. If you want to swim open water for training, find a guarded beach or swim with others. If you can’t, just swim more in a pool.
I was thinking about this yesterday as I was walking out to the lake. We had a club swim scheduled but I didn’t see any cars that I recognised in the lot. I decided I would swim, regardless of the turnout. I figured, I was wearing a wetsuit, I am very comfortable in the water, the lake has several shallow spots to rest at if the need arises, so the I rated the risks as far less than riding my bike to work in traffic. Turned out that one other club member was there, and we looked out for one another during the swim, so it was all good.
My advice I guess is to be cautious, don’t over estimate your ability, and wear a wetsuit.
I’ve been wondering about this myself sometimes: what about ‘towing’ a life preserver (ring-shaped floating thingie) via a rope around your waist while you swim? yeah, it adds a bit of drag but it’s training anyways…
I swim alone sometimes, but am now freaked out because we have a local - I call him “freaky diver guy” who dives in the local pond and I’m far more scared of him than of regular old drowning…why would you continually dive in a shallow murky pond?
Seriously though - I agree that it makes more sense to swim with people, but…usually when I swim with friends, we are at different levels and not close enough to each other to do much if one goes down anyway…we pop up and count heads and look for each other, but I think if I took a big gulp and went down…they would be quick to the body maybe, but I’m not sure they could save me???
Every year for the last five or so, I take a vacation to lake Michigan. Usually I stay in Ludington, right on the lake. My favorite part of these trips is open-water swimming in lake Michigan. Every morning I would get up early and do a mile or two in the lake. Usually I swim probably a mile into the lake, then just turned around and came back. I do not wear a wetsuit. I have never had a problem but have worried about getting hit by a boat. It is exhilarating. I love it. Why the fear?
One common species of shark, the Bull Shark, can live for extended periods of time in freshwater and is considered dangerous to humans because of its aggressive personality and carnivorous diet.
DO NOT wear a brightly colored swim cap or wetsuit if you are concerned about sharks. They have extraordinary visual acuity and may be drawn to that.
Do not swim near where fisherman are as the bait will attract sharks.
Above all, do your research about the lake you are using and find out if there are any Bull Shark spottings recorded.
I live in a small town west of Ft. Worth TX and there is no swimming pool in town that is open to lap swimming except once per week. I don’t have much choice but to swim in a small no wake lake by myself as I am the only tri geek in town. Bummer. It does freak me out, but yes I try to swim in my wetsuit when it is not too warm (the water which is rare from May to September). If I want to swim in a pool regularly I have to drive into Ft. Worth (30 miles each way). I think I will try swimming with a life preserver towed behind.
The scariest thing about swiming in this lake is the water mochasins. They are pretty aggressive and will come after you as you approach the banks. They usually come out from June to October. As a result of the snakes, I guess I will have to start driving into Ft. Worth thru the summer.
I swam by myself in Spring Mill Pond all the time last year. Usually there are enough other people around that I figure someone would notice (and maybe even do something about it!) if something happened to me. I never worried about swimming alone there.
I don’t think I’d swim in Trout Lake by myself, though. It’s pretty isolated.
I find the brightest colored beer can at the local 7-Eleven, get a six, down it, then tie it to my bandana to bring the sharks closer. They can be tough, but can also be good eating.
I am in Weatherford and I usually swim in lake weatherford (when it’s not threatening to burst the dam) or in sunshine lake. Grapevine is a full hour and 10 minutes away each way. When do the swims take place?