Cold Water Swim Logs 3.06 – 3.10

I've been swimming a lot, which is great! I feel weird saying that 59 degree water is "cold" but it is, currently, to me. So "cold" is more of a feeling, then a number!

Swim 3.06
Date: May 1, 2025
Time in water: 30:33
Water Temp: 55.5°F
Air Temp: low 40s
Where: Silver Beach, Lake Whatcom
Neoprene: Sleeve-less wetsuit

First Tri-club swim of the season! I don't normally swim with this crew because it's at 6AM and that is EARLY. But I for social reasons, I think I should start joining them. Plus then I can get a 90 minute swim in (they usually swim for 30 minutes).

Small crew for this first one; it was DJ's first swim of the season, and he was all suited up, including a hood. I was fine until I got out and we changed beach-side; the 40 degree air made my hands and feet absolutely freeze.

Swim 3.07
Date: May 2, 2025
Time in water: 45:20
Water Temp: 57°F
Air Temp: mid 50s
Where: Silver Beach, Lake Whatcom
Neoprene: Sleeve-less wetsuit

Wow it got warmer! So I finally made it up to 45 minutes, no problem.

Swim 3.08
Date: May 4, 2025
Time in water: 45:20
Water Temp: 55°F
Air Temp: high 50s, WINDY
Where: AM/PM, Lake Whatcom
Neoprene: Sleeve-less wetsuit

It was pretty windy to start. The water is so deceptive if there are not yet white caps; it looked pretty mellow. Usually the wind comes from the south in the summer or when the air is getting warmer, but this day, our wind was from the north. Since we swim south, that means a tail wind on the way out, and a headwind on the way back--always a dangerous situation.

I had no intention of swimming around the island, no one mentioned it. If we had brought it up, I would have said it was too windy, and the far side of the island might be too hard. But me and another swimmer made it to the far buoy in the channel, which is where I turned around last time. It's the go back or go around decision spot. She was ahead of me, and she stopped and made the international hand sign for turn around, which is a circle motion. At least, that's what I thought that meant. So I nodded and thumbs-upped. Well...she dove in and kept swimming away, and I thought, oh no. Well...what the hell. I was feeling good. No time to be nervous!

As expected, the second we turned on the far side, putting us directly into the larger channel and out of the protection of the island, the waves got big! I couldn't see over them unless I timed my sighting correctly. I kept myself calm, mostly because I could see the side of the island under water, and I could see I was making steady progress. As long as the waves weren't making me swim in place, then it was fine.

It was only in the moments where it was tougher to see if I was actually moving or not that I got nervous. The last stretch, just before reaching the end, I definitely starting wondering if I was even moving. I had to keep talking to myself, it's FINE I'm not cold, I AM moving. Worst case is just swimming to a dock and figuring out how to walk back.

All in all, it was my roughest swim of the season and I felt great! So I was pretty happy with this one.

Swim 3.09
Date: May 7, 2025
Time in water: 1:06:02
Water Temp: 59°F
Air Temp: mid 50s, slight breeze
Where: Silver Beach, Lake Whatcom
Neoprene: Sleeve-less wetsuit

I got really nervous when I heard a swimmer say that they had already swum 2 miles in the bay by this time last year, in preperation for the Whidbey Island Adventure Swim. Out of the folks I know, I am currently the only person registered for the 2.4 mile swim. But I haven't even gone an hour outside, much less 2 miles, this year (or last year either). I suddenly felt very behind, so I decided I had to shoot for an hour.

Just for fun, I tried to make it to the other public access point by Donald Street, but I wasn't really sure where it was, and I couldn't really see that well, so I turned around after 1000yds. Turns out I was almost there! This was a nice change of pace, going a little farther then normal, and then going past the beach and the other way a bit. It's a little boring I admit, doing the same swim over and over, and doing it alone. I was feeling a bit down on myself for being so behind, and also for my arms being kind of cold, despite the warm temps. It's like my forearms hurt or were achy or something, I'm still figuring it out.

Swim 3.10
Date: May 9, 2025
Time in water: 43:56
Water Temp: 59°F
Air Temp: 50°F
Where: Silver Beach, Lake Whatcom
Neoprene: Sleeve-less wetsuit

I’m doing something weird with my stroke so that my bicep hurts; I was trying to trouble shoot it in the water, perhaps my arm is too wide, or my rotation is weird such that I bend my arm at a weird angle? I'm not sure yet.

I've also started to pressure myself into not wearing a wetsuit anymore; it's almost 60 degrees! I would have laughed at myself for wearing one a few years ago. I've clearly lost my adaptation, although I have a feeling it won't actually make that big a difference, since my arms are already bare. But I am trying very hard to go easy on myself (lol), and besides, the Whidbey swim is wetsuit required, so I do have an excuse.

I feel like my mindset with swimming just isn't right. It used to be about the beauty of sunrises and the water, and time with friends. Now all I can think about is my stroke, my speed (or lack thereof), my lack of cold adaption, etc etc. Not great! That's not the point! What is the point! yeah! That's a great question. Maybe I'll ponder that during my next swim.