Got roped into a 3k run ending with a dip into LI Sound on New Years Day.
Any helpful hints?
(Rumor has it there is a hot tub near by for post-swim warming)
Yeah - don’t do it!!! Seriously, you’re a brave man. I’ve been conned into a local 5 kms race on New Years Day. The dip in the ice water would be a bit too much for me.
better hope the hot tub reverses the shrinkage
k
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Carry your own nutrition, but substitute your normal energy drink of choice with a nice strong whiskey!!!
Have fun, I did this last year at our local club ride on new years day. Ride to watch Polar Bears, jump in and out, ride some more, and run around the park at the finish. First tri of the year. By the way I did have a wonderful support crew (aka wife) at the swim with towel and dry clothes. Transition times were pretty slow with all of the shaking.
Will be doing it again this year and even picked a fellow club member or two to join in. Have fun!!!
I did a polar bear swim last february without the 5k and it wasn’t that bad, but I can’t imagine doing it with my heart rate already up. Just a 1 minute swim pumped my adrenaline up so much that I took a 2 hour nap that day.
There will never be a better time to break out that speedo. Do the whole thing in a mankini and let them know you are a triathlete first.
for the weak…in and out as quickly as you can (and you have to go all the way under to be considered a TRUE polar bear…they don’t just run in and back out again now do they?) and all you’ll really get is a good rush
for the true warrior…make sure you wear shoes (not and socks…just shoes)…that don’t have velcro…velcro and cold water do not mix. Same goes for watches. Lost my fave IM Timex because it had velcro. If you can go in and stay in shoes are a must…you’re not gonna feel your feet and you can do a fair bit of damage to them if they aren’t protected. Nothing else you wear, outside of a full dry suit, will keep you any warmer than anything else. A shirt will show some modesty but is not required. Silly hats, flippers, mask and snorkel are all bonus points.
Best of luck fellow bear…I’m going in for my 7th in a row and hold a personal best of 18:30 (18 and a half minutes) in Lake Ontario. The only ones who stay in longer than me anymore only go in up to their waists and that’s just cheating. Slows the hypothermia down too much.
I’m going in for my 7th in a row and hold a personal best of 18:30 (18 and a half minutes) in Lake Ontario.
Good lord, what was the water temperature? I did a splash and dash in 35 deg (F) Lake Erie last January - but I did go in all the way!
yeah last year was pretty warm compared to wading through ice sheets (the thin stuff that is like glass when it breaks) of two years ago. Think it was in the upper 30s though.