[Tithers]

Sheldon, since you are a "tempurature wuss" you're not allowed to answer.<br><br>
Ok folks...I'm thinking about an OWS. I have a full wetsuit. Water is 53.<br><br>
If I wear 4 swimcaps will all be well? I have no booties either.

 

[Kate60]

How long you swimming for? It'll be cold for sure, I did a swim in 56. It hurts your face.

 

[Stitcher]

How bad does it hurt your face?

 

[Doug33]

From experience I can tell you that your face, hands, and feet will hurt. Some people can handle it. It is just too uncomfortable for me to put up with.

 

[Stitcher]

hmmm.....<br>
Is it the kind of hurt that is dangerous?

 

[Kate60]

It hurts bad, I only swam 750m and was happy to get out. The race had a half and sprint, they shortened the half swim to 1500m. It can give you a headache and your nose will run for hours afterwards.

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

It's cold - but not un-doable. I regularly (well, say "yearly"<img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> scuba dive comfortably in the low 50's. When you're swimming, you're more active than scuba diving - so you generate more heat. You'll want booties. And gloves. And a full face mask would help. And I'd go with a hood that covers your chin and neck rather than multiple caps. Getting in and out can be tough too - when you're wet and the wind is blowing and it's cold air. Brrr.<br><br>
But then there are folks like Swimmerbee who just suck it up and go so... Who knows?

 

[pcsronbo]

I would, but I'm a polar bear. I think most people would not.<br><br>
booties and neoprene cap (anything that will hold the heat, really) would work, but the ones which cover your ears are better (just got mine in prep for Alcatraz it rocks!)<br><br>
this a race or workout? how long?<br><br>
20-30min, go for it. 60-90 min, get the gear

 

[LookiLoo]

I would not, but that's because I've spent the last 14-ish years in the south and I've become quite a pansy when it comes to cold....I think my water temp threshold is probably 60 with a wetsuit.

 

[luv2tri]

I did 57-58 once. cold cold face & head. Ouchie cold. Make sure you have someone else there if possible. If you get too cold you can start not thinking straight. Called hypothermia. If you got the gear and the support go ahead and try, its the only way to know if you can do it.

 

[maggie d]

yike! 53! and I was gonna wus outta my OWS this saturday, water temp is 65. gues I have nothing to complain about.<br>
I have a tri in 10 days, water temp is 63. If Tithers can do it, then I can do it!<br><br>
lemme know how it goes T!

 

[Tri_coach06]

I almost DNS'ed CdA because the water was 65. I just could not swim, even with a neoprene cap. Somehow the temp went up to 68 and I was able to survive, but my time was so super slow because I was shivering the whole time.<br><br>
CS

 

[RunningForT3]

Are booties legal in a tri?

 

[hobey]

Swim socks are legal for Alcatraz.<br><br>
I need to get my gear out for some cold OWS soon.

 

[itri]

<br>
They were allowed at CDA. Dont know if thats just NAS or if USAT agrees also. By the way it was 58 not 68!! And I wore a neoprene cap, skipped the booties. At first thought it was a mistake and then by 800 m (with the neoprene cap) it was fine as I built up heat (or my feet were numb).<br><br>
Blue seventy makes nice cap and booties.

 

[3chilipeppers]

All I can say is BURRRRRR!!!! I've been in 65 degree water, but no colder. 65 was pretty darn cold!! (I didn't have on anything but a swimsuit, though -- we were in Maui)