We arrange the worlds roughest ironman-distance in Norway this summer, the “Norseman Xtreme Triathlon 2003”. The swimming will be in the Hardangerfjord and the finish at 1883 meters. You can read more at www.nxtri.com .
The swim might be rather cold. I strongly need your advice, what is the coldest acceptable water temperature for an ironman-swim?
It is of course a mandatory wet suit. We could use neoprene swim caps, socks and gloves. How much would that help? Could we use wool below the wetsuit? Which race has the coldest swim? (Yes, we will do the race 3 weeks later next year and the sea will be more comfortable then).
Please share your knowledge. We will pay back with the most extraordinay race photos you’ve ever seen.
PS: What do I mean by cold? I expect down to 60F/15,5c. There is a limit at some point where we will have to postone to the race with 3 weeks. This is the limit I need your help to decide.
Your hyperlink includes the ‘.’ it should be this instead.
I don’t know what the coldest acceptable temp would be, but putting wool under a wetsuit sounds like a terrible idea to me. Neoprene caps (especially), socks, and gloves would probably help to a nontrivial extent. How cold do you expect the water to be?
I have swam in 54F/13C water on numerous times for workouts and have only added a neoprene cap under my swim cap. (Along with a full Orca wetsuit)
As long as you aren’t standing around in the water too long it is not too bad. Some of the people I swim with also use ear plugs to help with the ice cream headache
I think that anything under about 54F is pretty chilly. We’ve done two triathlons this year already at about that temp, and the only thing we’ve added is a neoprene cap. With the longer time in the water for an IM swim, I think it might be appropriate to allow booties. They did that at Escape from Alcatraz last year when the water was in that range.
Your race looks interesting, but I think you may have to go some to claim the title of “World’s Toughest” iron distance. Embrunman is extrodinarly difficult, and that’s mostly because of the bike course. Also, the new Mountain Extreme Triathlon, which is off road, with over 9000’ of climbing on the bike might just have a claim as well. Check it out here http://www.mxtri.com/index.php
Good luck with your undertaking, and let us know how it goes.
There is a nice article in our club newsletter on this subject written by one of our USMS club swimmers here in Montgomery County. The author is a neuro surgeon and has swum the english channel, catalina island crossing and a few other notable cold water swims.
That was a good article. I know from my days as a Naval Aviator that outside air temperature and wind speed also speed up heat loss in water. You might check with the Navy or Coast Guard in your country and see if they have some tables you could use.
The notes I have seen for this years world champs in Queenstown on the South Island of NZ are saying to expect the water to be in the range of 14-18 degrees - has me panicing already!
That swim was VERY cold. Sub-60 degrees for the whole swim- I think they said it “made it up to” 59.8 by the time the last entry exited the water. Only a few dropouts from the cold though.
Might want to check on the rules for booties and gloves. At the time, we were told it was illegal to use anything on the hands and feet. Head was alright. Most people just threw on an extra swim cap, ear plugs, and vaselined their feet- Don’t do the hands, you’ll never be able to see again if you touch your goggles.
As far as being the toughest- It’s not the terrain that makes an IM hard (although it makes a good challenge), but the distance.
1 degree under the acceptqable wetsuit limit. I hate cold water. Hate it. You will only get my T1 from me when you pry it from my cold, wet fingers. Did I mention I hate cold water?