EXPERT ADVICE


For the Channel you’ll also need: a pilot, who navigates you across the Channel, and whose skills cannot be understated; the right weather and water conditions; and money – it costs around £2,500 to swim one way across the channel including pilot fees and membership of either the English Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF) or the Channel Swimming Association (CSA).


Select a number of build-up swims, ideally through the British Long Distance Swimming Association (BLDSA) who run their events under ‘Channel swimming rules’ (no wetsuits – just a standard costume, one swim hat, goggles and grease allowed). Windermere is often used as a build-up swim, as a return crossing is 21 miles. A lot of people train in Dover Harbour on weekends, building up endurance outdoors, while building up speed and strength in the pool during the week. Each person attempting the Channel needs to have proof of a six-hour cold-water swim. As for being too old, that’s certainly not the case. The oldest man to swim the Channel was one George Burnstad (USA) who did it in less than 16 hours, aged 70, back in 2004. Australian grandmother Sue Oldham, 65, holds the title as the oldest woman. It’s never too late to start preparing your body, as long as you do it right.


COULD I OVERHEAT IN A WETSUIT? I have entered a 10km open water swimming race in May (in the UK) and am wondering whether to wear a wetsuit, a legsuit or just plain trunks. Estimates for the water temperature are between 12 and 15 degrees. At those temperatures, is there any danger of overheating while wearing a wetsuit? What would you suggest are the pros and cons of using a wetsuit over a legsuit or trunks? Chris Freeman


High-performance expert Steven Munatones says... Consider what your short- and long-term goals are and what your background is. If you are worried about overheating in 12-15°C waters, then there is no need to wear a wetsuit or legsuit. But most people would not overheat in water temperature under 15°C, unless they had years of experience and were swimming at a rapid pace. If you do overheat, count yourself lucky (or well-trained) that you are capable of this physiological response to sub 15°C water. Of course, if you want to adhere strictly to traditional


marathon swimming rules, then wearing a wetsuit or legsuit is never a consideration. On the other hand, if you have never


STEVEN MUNATONES Our high-performance swimming expert If it’s related to open water swimming, Steven Munatones has probably done it. As an athlete, he was the 1982 World Long Distance Swimming Champion over 25km in Lake Windermere. He coached the USA National Open Water Swimming Team at the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 World Swimming Championships and he was the NBC Olympics' Commentator for the 2008 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in Beijing. He is the founder of Open Water Source (openwatersource.com).


54


done a 10K swim before, are a triathlete or have limited opportunities to train in cold water, then you should do so. Fundamentally, a wetsuit offers slightly more warmth and buoyancy than a legsuit and signifi cantly more than trunks. Use of a wetsuit also changes your arm stroke, decreases your need to kick and enables a more streamlined body position. With a wetsuit, you can enjoy slipping into the cool water without any hyperventilation or hesitation and go for a swim without the need for focused cold-water training.


If your goal is to simply enjoy long-distance swimming – rather than train for a wetsuit- free crossing – then a wetsuit allows you to quickly get in and enjoy the natural rhythm of


For more on fi tting your


wetsuit, see our step-by-step guide on page 44


your stroke, your enhanced buoyant body position and the challenge of distance and speed rather than distance and cold.


IS MY WETSUIT TOO TIGHT? I recently purchased a Speedo Tri Elite FS wetsuit. After struggling into it, I found it extremely diffi cult to infl ate my lungs properly just standing still. Swimming was worse. Speedo’s experts assured me I had the right size, but I’m seriously worried how I will cope with a competitive 1.5km swim. Is there anything (apart from practising) that can prepare me for breathing in such constrictive and unfamiliar swim gear? Colin Smith


Wetsuit expert Jack Allison says... Firstly you should make sure that you have the wetsuit on correctly. This will sound a bit basic but, in my experience, it is rare that an inexperienced athlete will pull the wetsuit up properly. Try pulling the rubber up an inch or two on the arms and legs, and work the folds up the limbs and into the body, making sure that the crotch and armpits are as high as they can possibly be. Think of the rubber as a liquid; if you have spare rubber in one place you can always work the wetsuit so it appears in another. Thus, if you ‘give’ the torso more rubber to play with, you will fi nd it easier to breathe and move your shoulders. Secondly you should bear in mind that the rubber will


give a little with wear so it will likely become a bit more comfortable in time. It may be worth trying the wetsuit out in a safe environment, such as a pool or well-supervised


JACK ALLISON Our wetsuits expert A passionate swimmer and triathlete, Jack Allison has spent a good part of the last four years at open water venues, helping people to fi nd the best wetsuit to suit their swimming style, body type and goals. In early 2010 he started Tri-Wetsuits (tri-wetsuits.co.uk) with the goal of stocking all swimming wetsuit brands and making them available to test. He believes the right advice – and hence fi nding the most appropriate wetsuit – can make a huge difference to a swimmer’s performance and enjoyment.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68