Dear fellow swimmers
How to take your swimming outside
Back in 2011, shortly after I launched H2Open (Outdoor Swimmer's predecessor), we got excited about lakes opening up for summer.
Which would be the first lakes to open? What's the water temperature?
Now that many lakes stay open all year to cater to the demand for cold water swimming there's less of a buzz around spring.
But I still feel
Easter marks the start of the open water swimming season. Winter swimmers increase the time they spend in the water. Swimming takes over from dipping. Swimmers who spent the colder months in the pool unpack their wetsuits and come back outside.
This week's newsletter is primarily for those of you in the latter category. Scroll down for tips on how to get your face in the water, taking your front crawl outside and mastering
sighting.
Remember that early season water temperatures can still cause cold water shock. Watch out too for hypothermia. It can be tempting to stay in the water too long to feel like you've got your money's worth. Also, low air temperature and cool winds can make warming up again after swimming difficult.
If you do want to stay in the water longer, you could try starting your swim in a wetsuit. Then, 15 minutes before you get out, remove the wetsuit and swim without. Even if you plan to wear a wetsuit all summer, I'd still
recommend this for the pleasure of feeling cool water on your skin.
Spring is a beautiful time to swim outdoors. The water is often clear. New life seems to emerge around you as you swim. And there's the anticipation of a long summer of swimming ahead.
Make the most of it!
