How To Plan an Open Water Swimming Event

GENERIC PLANNING TIMELINE  FOR EVENT DIRECTORS

This timeline is for an event in July.

JANUARY

            Decide on the event date.

Confirm entry fees.

Complete Paper Entry. Update previous year’s paper entry form.

Submit Paper Entry  for online registration functionality.

Request Sanction Number as needed.

Make Sure Key People are on Board.

                                Event Director                                                                  

                                Assistant Event Director              

                                Safety Director                               

                                Assistant Safety Director             

                                Pavilion Director                             

                                Food Director                                  

                                Charitable Funds Director           

FEBRUARY

                Submit Special Event Form from Parks Department.

                Submit Coast Guard Request for Special Activity Permit.          

                Sign up electronic timing.

                Post event on key Websites

                Get Electronic Networking Going

                Sketch Preliminary Course Map

                Review Safety Plan for Changes .

MARCH

                Open Online Entry

               Pick T-shirt design.

   Make Sure Other Key People are on Board

                Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat

                Event Sponsor                          

                             Reserve loudspeaker

 APRIL

                Request Gift Cards from Sponsors.

                Request swim-caps from Sponsors

                Follow-up on people and permit issues.

                Put out a request for volunteers.

 MAY

                Request medals/ribbons.

                Follow-up on people and permit issues.

    Permit fee to Parks Department

                Keep pressing for volunteers

                Check buoys and replace as needed. Make sure they are good for another year.

 JUNE

                Make sure key people have everything they need.

                Stay on open issues: permits/volunteers/other

                Insurance Certificate to Parks Department

                Line up photographer for newsletter.

                Finalize course map with GPS coordinates

                Get a commitment from Lifeguards

                Mail paper entries to people who do not have computers.

                Make sure the kayakers are on board.

 JULY

                Meet with key people. Determine open issues.

Check Supplies

                                Stop Watches

                                Clip Boards

                                Dry Erase Board

                                Dry Erase Pens

                                Pens for writing numbers on arms

                                Writing Pens

                                Duct tape

                                Extension cords

                                Blankets for hypothermia

                Check-in Signs

                T-shirts/sweatshirts/towels for significant donors

WEEK OF EVENT

                Close Entries Tuesday Night

                Assign swimmer numbers to each swimmer.

                Determine heats

                Email event spreadsheet to electronic timing company Wednesday night.

                Email each registered swimmer Thursday night

                                Course Map

                                Safety Plan

                                Weather link

                                Water Quality Link

                                “Thank you for registering…”

                Friday - Print:

                                Each Distance: Check-in lists in Alpha Sequence

                                T-shirt sizes

                                Cash for lifeguards

                                Swimmer Number Sequence for electronic timing company

                                Emergency Contacts for Safety Director plus significant medical conditions.

WEEK AFTER EVENT

                Post Results on website.

                Notify swimmers that results have been posted.

                Deal with loose ends.

AUGUST

                Thank you’s to volunteers and other contributors.

When Not To Swim in Open Water.

Today I got 100 yards toward my virtual Lake Erie swim. The water temperature in the lake was between 55 and 62 degrees depending on with whom you talked. It took me 100 yards to remember that swimming is meant to be fun and I wasn't having any. This a photo of the lake in winter. Note the absence of water. That's what it felt like today to me. There were some wetsuit swimmers in the water. They appeared to be doing ok with no complaints.

Lake Erie Virtual Swim - 57 miles

Judi has created an open water event for the summer. It's a virtual swim across Lake Erie. That's 57 miles or 100,320 yards. It can be swum in the pool or in the lake. Swimming in the lake is such a great change of pace after a long winter in the pool. I expect to swim most of the distance in the lake. Since I usually swim between 45,000 and 50,000 yards per month, I expect to make this distance in 90 days. Stay tuned.

What About Water Temperature?

Two weeks ago, the water temperature in the Gulf at Bradenton Beach was in the low 70’s. I had to use my dive-in, stand-up-fast, and dive-back-in approach to get into the water. But once I was in, it was ok. Right now, the water temperature in Lake Erie is in the mid 50’s. That’s too cold for me. When I swam in the Potomac River Swim, the water temperature was 65 degrees. I know I can swim 4 ½ hours in 65 degree water.  But back then my chocolate milkshake training regimen had built up some very nice natural insulation. Cholesterol issues have forced me to back off the milkshakes. Never-the-less, when Lake Erie gets up to 65 degrees, I’ll start thinking about swimming in it the lake.

 

If water temperature is too warm, swimmers lose their energy. If it is too cold, swimmers lose their heat. At the warm end of the range are public recreation swimming pools. These pools are intended for use by young children, seniors, and others people who don’t swim very far very fast. The pool managers try to keep these pools in the mid 80’s. The American Red Cross recommends 78 degrees for competition pools. Pools that are used exclusively for intense training may be kept at 73 degrees. 

 

Some open water swimmers wear wetsuits to protect against the cold. Wetsuit swimmers can overheat if the water temperature gets too high. I personally discourage the use of wetsuits if the water temperature is above 80 degrees.

Most open water swimmers will wear a silicone swim cap. They do this for two reasons. First, a brightly colored swim cap will make the swimmer more visible to boaters and jet-skiers. This enhances the safety of the swim. Second, a swim cap helps to retain heat. Since heat is lost through the head, a swim cap helps to slow down that heat loss. Some swimmers will wear two silicone swim caps – one over the other – to retain even more heat.  Other swimmers will wear a latex swim cap to accomplish the same thing. Latex swim caps are heavier and thicker than silicone swim caps. They inherently hold more heat.

Some swimmers experience discomfort in their ears if the water is too cold. They use wax ear plugs to eliminate that problem. Some swimmers will apply Vaseline to their chests to help retain heat there. If I was contemplating an English Channel swim, I would probably mention applying grease head-to-toe. But I’m not. So I won’t.

Every swimmer has his or her threshold for feeling the cold. Each open water swimmer has to determine his or her comfort level. Some trial and error is necessary. It’s like developing  one’s own personal heat index. Once that is known, appropriate heat retention strategies can be deployed.

What About Lake Erie Water Quality?

When I tell people I swim in Lake Erie, the first thing they want to know is whether the water is clean. I tell them water quality issues regarding Lake Erie are old news. The water is great for swimming MOST OF THE TIME. The exception is the 24 hour period after a rain storm. The storm and sanitary sewers were designed and built several generations ago. They were designed to overflow and intermingle under flood conditions. The overflow still happens. The cost to upgrade to current technology the system in Cleveland will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Suffice it to say the sensibilities of us swimmers are not a part of the decision equation. Never-the-less, I am happy to report that on days NOT following a rain storm the water is great for swimming. I should point out the the State of Ohio every day in the summer tests the bacteria levels at many public beaches. They publish historical, current and projected levels of Bacteria. I find this information be very helpful. I should also point out that water quality issues are not unique to Lake Erie. With the possible exception of certain mountain lakes and some municipal water reservoirs, I'm not sure there is clean water anywhere.

We Swim So We Can Eat.

Diane and I vacation in Bradenton Beach, FL. The house in which we stay is 2 blocks from Tampa Bay and 2 blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. We swim in the Gulf. To the right 1.4 miles up the beach is a restaurant just off the sand. No shirt, no shoes, no problem. We like to swim up the restaurant. Diane tows a waterproof flotation container which contains some money, t-shirts, and shorts. This device has a belt that is too small for me so Diane gets the honors. It is truly waterproof. Depending on water conditions, the swim will take about 45 minutes. When we arrive at the beach in front of the restaurant, we open up the container, dress for lunch - t-shirts and shorts - and go have lunch. After a leisurely meal and after being warmed by the sun, we reverse the process.  Down to the water we go. T-shirts and shorts go back into the container. We go back in the water and swim home. Total time is about three hours. What a great way to spend three hours of vacation.