Triathlon - Open Water Swimming Alone

Anyone open water swim by themselves? I've got an Oly in two weeks that is my first OW for the year and I'd like to go swim once or twice in a lake before then. Problem is my wife's schedule doesn't really line up with mine and it will be tough for both of us to go together like we usually do. Any reason not to go out by myself? Anything I should do different?

Thanks

One could always swim with a kickboard if there are safety concerns in the open water.

see if any others want to join you. If there is a race coming up in 2 weeks, you should be able to find somebody to swim with. I do not recommend swimming alone.

If you must, use a wetsuit or something like a pull/pool bouy. And tell everybody where you're going and to check in on you at a certain time. :)

I swim alone all the time. Wear a brightly colored swim cap and have at it.

The only caveat I would throw out there is make sure you know the water. nothing like swimming alone in a foreign body of water and swimming into some submerged structure or netting, etc...

Not so wise, but I admit I've done it, yes, in a lake. I'd still recommend finding someone to stand on the shore and call for help if you disappear underwater for more than 2 minutes. :P

There are a few lakes around with designated swimming beaches so I don't have to worry about boats. I generally just swim the ropes, but always a bright swimcap to be safe. I've always gone with my wife but figure I'll try without this time and see how it goes. Shouldn't be a problem hopefully. Thanks for all the advice.

yeh, swim cap, and 'check in' times, not really for your benefit but the people who would be worried about you. I have done it a couple of times, but swam along the ropes to be safe.

You may want to check out the back of Triathlete magazine. I've seen ads there for a "safe-swim" device that can quickly inflate if you get into trouble. The name of the company/device escapes me right now, but check the magazine and I'm sure you can find it easily.

add_rock,
I've heard all about those and forgot all about them. Damnit. I'll check some local swim shops and see if anyone carries them. A friend decided he wants to go with me so I'll have someone to swim with this time. I will look for that device/safety thing though, good idea.

add_rock,
I've heard all about those and forgot all about them. Damnit. I'll check some local swim shops and see if anyone carries them. A friend decided he wants to go with me so I'll have someone to swim with this time. I will look for that device/safety thing though, good idea.

tajss, I just looked it up. It's called "Swim Safe". Check it out at www.Triaids.com. Good luck!

smittyben,
It's not exactly a life perserver. It's more a belt that can inflate if a cord is pulled. They're even USAT legal, which seems a bit odd as there are lifeguards during races. I think they sound like a pretty good idea if swimming alone, just in case you run into trouble. Plus if it makes the wife feel a bit better, then it might be worth it.

Anyone else ever use one of these devices? Opinions or feedback.

A lake should me pretty safe. Just swim close to shore, wear something that is bright and visible and look out for boaters. I used to swim alone when I live in Hawaii and occasionally I would see a Tiger shark swim by and check me out. I stopped after one checked me a little too closely. You shouldnt have that problem in a lake though.....probably :)

My wife and I are going to be in Belize on vacation in a couple weeks after I graduate. Plan on swimming regularly in the ocean. We'll see if I see anything checking me out, other than all the women, of course. Haha. Not sure if I'd like to be swimming and constantly looking out for sharks though. Is that a new obstacle like getting kicked or something during a race?

When they were body marking me for the Tri at Pacific Grove last fall, my wife asked why they marked both arms, both legs, and both hands. I said it's because if a shark gets you and takes off a couple of appendages, there's still a good chance that they can identify you.

Sadly, my wife did not find this answer amusing.

On topic, I have swum by myself in open water before. My advice is to swim along the shore, far enough out so you're not likely to swim into submerged trees and such, but close enough that you could flail yourself to shore if you got in trouble.

Also, if you're wearing a wet suit, you should have enough boyancy to float on your back if you can avoid panicking.

...The only caveat I would throw out there is make sure you know the water. ...

+1

that's the only thing to worry about. If you're a quarter mile from shore and you have a problem, nobody is going to get there in time to do anything for you but fish your body out of the lake.

I was a competitive swimmer in school and a rescue swimmer in the Navy. I still like to surf and all I can say is know the spot and don't be stupid. Know what kinds of marine life is out there, what the currents are, what the water temp is, and you should be fine.

On topic, I have swum by myself in open water before. My advice is to swim along the shore, far enough out so you're not likely to swim into submerged trees and such, but close enough that you could flail yourself to shore if you got in trouble.

Also, if you're wearing a wet suit, you should have enough boyancy to float on your back if you can avoid panicking.

+1 When open water swimming it's normally in the wetsuit anyway, plus I often follow the shore like caloso suggests so I'm close enough to where I can stand if the need arises.

Swimming in a lake is pretty safe as long as you arent in FLorida. I almost made that mistake before hearing about all the gator attacks.

No gators or anything horrible to worry about here. The worst that can probably happen in our local lakes is stepping on a piece of glass that some drunk broke. I tend to swim along the shore where I can stand if needed as well. And floating on my back is always the backup option. I went on Sunday and it was still a bit too cold. No wetsuit for me as I live in Dallas. The only early swims this time of year are pool swims. My first open water race of the year is this weekend but it is in a small manmade lake that is reported to be at 69 degrees already.

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

The lakes in Florida aren't all gator infested. You just have to know where to go and what to look for. I grew up in FL and used to water ski past gators all the time. It's kind of like a shark attack, it happens, but you have better chances of dying in a car crash or something like that. Now, if you are stupid, and go to lake Alice in Gainesville where dogs get eaten just about weekly, then you deserve to get eaten, it's like natural selection.

I just read the review about Tri-Aids SwimSafe on AllTriathlon.com http://alltriathlon3.homeip.net/www/blog/ . This product really make sense when aperson is in the open water. I actually own one and use it whenever I'm in the open water.

... No wetsuit for me as I live in Dallas. ....

I used to live in Denton and we'd swim Lake Lewisville and Lake Ray Roberts all the time. The only things to watch for is snakes near the shore in the summer. I used to wear Chuck Taylor canvas sneakers when I swam in the lakes there so I could stand up at the shore without worrying about broken glass and stuff.

Yea Lewisville is not too far from either. I always forget about that lake for some reason. I may have to check that one out too this summer.

I swim at Sandy Point and Rockledge Park on Lake Grapevine. They are both near Dallas. The Grapevine North Shore Trail (9.5 miles) starts at Rockledge Park. It is a great trail for running and mountain biking.

I swam at Rockledge once last year with DAM. It was pretty nice. I guess one could just go out on their own and swim staying relatively close to shore to avoid boats. Lavon and some park at Grapevine both have a roped swimming area so I've just swam the ropes and a little beyond but boats don't usually hang around there which makes me feel a bit safer.

I use my SwimSafe and it is great! It is like home owners insurance. I've had mine for 30 years and never had a major claim, yet I would not think about not having insurance. SwimSafe is a smart way to swim often and always have help just an arms reach away. I never leave shore without it.

Sounds like you're a somewhat accomplished swimmer. As long as it's not open ocean it should be safe.

When I was a kid I went out surfing on the beach at a river mouth in the middle of a storm. The waves were great, but I caught a current which took me so far off the shore I didn't know what to do. I was just bobbing in the water for 6 hours, until the Coast Guard picked me up 3 miles off the coast of Santa Cruz. Alot of paranoia goes through your head during that time.

Open water doesn't scare me but open ocean does.

Damn. I have a best friend who moved back to NC to live on the beach and surf. You didn't have your board to paddle back in? He surfs in storms sometimes too. My biggest fear would be the lightning, considering your sitting in water and all.

Ferret- I'm sure the water rushing out of the river created a massive riptide effect. Thats crazy that it carried you that far out and sucks that the Coast Guard had to pick you up but hey, at least you got a ride on a cool boat.

Taj-Don't know if you knew but rain washes lots of bugs and other things small fish eat into the ocean, then fish come near the shore to eat that which attracts the sharks nearer the shore to eat the fish. Basically, you may want to warn your friend that surfing in storms isn't a good idea. Still, it's not all that common to get attacked, just more likely to see a shark. Also, bacteria and pollution are washed into the ocean during heavy rain making it more likely for you to get sick. I don't know if your friend knew all that but it's good general info to have if anyone is thinking about surfing in the rain.

People have been attacked by sharks and other creatures,doesn't phase me,it shouldn't make YOU paranoid either.Three individuals,at different times who I knew as a young man drowned,three of the strongest swimmers I've ever known. All three drowned as a result of cramps.

Yea. I've been considering buying one of those swimsafes. Found out they are made right here in Dallas pretty close to my house. I've also considered buying a kayak for my wife. I'm getting into longer distances and she won't want to or be willing to swim with me for as long as I need to start swimming. That way she could still go and hang out with me at the lake while I swim. I might do both.

I just read the review about Tri-Aids SwimSafe on AllTriathlon.com http://alltriathlon3.homeip.net/www/blog/ . This product really make sense when aperson is in the open water. I actually own one and use it whenever I'm in the open water.

I think this a heck of an idea. I do the occassional traithlon, and am a lousy swimmer. Good enough, that I'm really not going to drown, but bad enough to not be comfortable in open water. The swim safe would give me enough peace of mind to relax and probably swim better.