What to wear to open
water swimming events and how to get warm quickly after
As the cold water season approaches, I thought now would be
as good a time as ever to go through the proper attire for open water swimming
events and perhaps more important, how to get warm quickly after.
Firstly lets talk about wetsuits. Many people avoid these as
they believe they constrict their movements. However this couldn’t be further
from the truth. Wetsuits help to keep you warm which is extremely useful for
open water swimming events, as they help
you float better and reduce drag so you can swim faster. When choosing your
wetsuit, ensure it is snug but not too tight. You need it to fit well so it
doesn’t let water in but you don’t want it restricting you. Ensure you test it
out in the water before any big event to avoid limitations.
People struggle with open water events mainly due to the
cold. There are numerous ways around this and wetsuits are only one option. You
can buy boots, socks and gloves and these are really useful. If you think about
your hands and feet being in and out of the water constantly, inevitably it can
be a shock to the body but gloves and boots help reduce this and provide extra
warmth. If these are something you may be interested in, look out for neoprene
materials as this has been tried and tested to prove it's the best.
Other accessories that may be of benefit this season include
hats, goggles and ear plugs. Ensure hats and plugs are made out of silicone as
this again is best suited for its purpose. Ear plugs are great preventing ear
infections. When looking to purchase goggles, make sure they fit your face
properly and are comfortable. You can buy tinted goggles for sunny days but at
this time of year, opt for clear or yellow glasses.
All this is good while in you’re in the water but when you
get out, how do you get warm quickly? One of the most common tips that people
focus their attention on is foil blankets. These are great to throw on as soon
as you leave the water. At this point it is also vital to
have something to eat, albeit a sports bar or a sandwich. Food will create more
energy and in turn keep you warm so eating soon after an event is important.
Hot drinks are also great for keeping your hands warm and maintaining core body
temperatures.
It can take up to ten minutes for your body to adjust to the
conditions so the sooner you can get dry and put on comfortable layers, the
better for you. After you are dry and have on your tracksuit, grab some hand
warmers. The gel hand warmers are small and easy to carry but they warm up so
quickly to suit your needs. They are great for swimming events.
One tip that is not as recognised but is equally as great is
as soon as you leave the water, go for a run. It is a great way to generate
some heat while adapting to the dry conditions and also acts as a cool down.
All these tips are great and are tried and tested to work
but try them all and see what works best for you. For more tips and everything
you could need for swimming events, take a look at http://www.sportsdirect.com/pages/swimming?utm_source=blog+post&utm_medium=seo&utm_campaign=swimming+attire+and+warmth
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