Not totally running related, but who knows for future running challenges...(I don't think so)

[Oldfloss]

UPDATE:

Many thanks to those folk who replied. This is, is like any other new venture, so difficult when making choices, but, after speaking to a really helpful manufacturer and folk who do use wetsuits for different reasons, at different times of the year. I have one on the way. Not too sure how it is all going to work out, but now I do have, ( hopefully), the choice to swim outdoors, all through the year!

Running wise, I am on Week3 of Bridge to 10K again; when I do reach 10K , and move forward, I may feel qualified to post on here once more

Thanks again x

Hi people.

Well, am not running fit enough to be on here at all currently, just crawling back up to 10K, but I have a question.

I am taking up late season and early season swimming again.. the sea, Llyns and rivers in north Wales. I have had some great advice from a wetsuit manufacturer, re- size and thickness...( who knew I would ever be an XS), but has anyone who has done Triathlons , regularly swims outdoors, or anything that involves open water swimming, got any recommendations at all ? I am getting swamped with the number of makes out there!

I am not thinking of any combined running and swimming challenges, but last time I came on here I and asked an odd question, I did end up doing a Half Marathon... never say never?

Thanks,

Floss x

[Mormor1 Half Marathon]

I've tried swimming in them but the palava of getting in and out takes away the spontaneous stripping off and going straight in at the end of a run. I think the one I had was a surfing one anyway so too thick.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Mormor1]

I have unfortunately, got to be more sensible than I used to be for Winter swimming .Spring and Summer is different. The group I am going to be swimming with on Sundays wear them and at the moment it is cold.

If I was still a size 12 or above I might think about it , but I need to pile some more weight on first!

Thanks for the reply anyway!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

My swimming wetsuit is Zone3 and is good, but it is the only brand I've tried!

From what I've seen at triathlons I'd say that Zone3 is the most popular. I also have spotted quite a few Orca and Huub.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

Thanks for this.... that is one that I have been looking at... I spotted a lady here in wales last year coming from the sea one morning and she said they were fabulous... and not Mega bucks! Some I have looked at... eeek!I'll take a look!

I have my after swim robe though, Mr OF bought me that at Christmas

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

These suits are pretty tricky to put on, but I found I got the hang of it fairly quickly. Be careful because they are really easily damaged by fingernails! I took to putting socks on my hands when pulling mine on 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

Thank you... I am hoping that the group I will be with ( they are so friendly and supportive), will be helpful.. They invited me to join then as I was running one morning.. I stopped to chat and was due to swim the next week and the pandemic happened! They are called the Woolly Hatter Group!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

It's definitely nicer if there's someone to zip you up! 😊😊😊

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

I can always take Mr OF too xxx

[Frenc Half Marathon]

I’m afraid I have no helpful advice whatsoever. There’s a good reason for that! 🤣🤣🤣. I truly salute all you cold water swimmers, I really do 😊.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Frenc]

I love it...but i have lost so much weight..no reserves. In Summer on a dry but still day it is blissful.

Thank you x

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

No advice from me but just to say I am super impressed!Go Floss 😘💪🌊xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to aliboo70]

Maybe..xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to aliboo70]

Just want to keep doing what I enjoy doing and this seems an option for now... hopefully late Spring and Summer will find me in my normal swimsuit...I need to get a little chunkier... x

[nowster Metric Marathon]

I would think the greatest consideration is the thickness of the neoprene.

There are plenty of surfers on the Llŷn in the summer (especially at Porth Neigwl/Hell's Mouth), but what they're wearing is usually summer thickness nylon faced neoprene rather than trisuits.

The difference seems to be that trisuits tend to be smoother, without the nylon protective layers, with extra flexibility at the shoulder joints.

For winter use, surfers would probably be looking at drysuits rather than wetsuits!

I'm not an expert, though. I don't even like to get my feet wet at the shore!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to nowster]

I have it sorted out now out, and thank you. Thickness is key.. a wet suit is what I need and I have one ordered !

I am a completely fanatical researcher at the best of times and am hoping I have made the right decision .

Thank you x

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

Glad you are all sorted, have fun 😊 I have never tried swimming in lakes or rivers…..it must be very chilly in the winter! 🥶

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to skysue16]

Thanks Sue.. weirdly, when I always swam in West Wales on New Year's Day, it often, because if the ambient temperature out of the water, felt warmer than in Summer.

But combining common sense ( gulp) and Mr. OF's reluctance to do any sea rescue I think this is the way to go for now.

I love sea swimming and the company of like minded folk who have been doing this for a long time seems a safe option through the colder months?

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Reading your post Floss, I am reminded of Emma Peel in her skin-tight black catsuit 🐈‍⬛(Younger members will maybe have to google this 😂)

Go you!! Purrrrrrrrrr 🐈‍⬛ xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Irishprincess]

Oh yes!!!! I have to say, it does look a tad snazzy on the photographs..I can't wait to see it! Loved Emma Peel...miaow!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

We want a photo! xxx

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Something like this? 🤣

old style diving suit

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to nowster]

Nooooo! Too flimsy! 😉

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Doesn’t that look so cumbersome?

More like this 😍

Emma Peel

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

They toned it down a little for the colour episodes!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Do you know, I can’t remember it being in colour. My memories are all in black and white (says she, showing her age 🙀😂)

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

From series 5 (the second Emma Peel one) it was made in colour (or color) with an eye to selling into the US market.

youtube.com/watch?v=o-GmH8e...(Not working as expected?)

(also features a brief view of her in that black leather catsuit)

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Love it!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Irishprincess]

Me too !

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

My husband’s favourite female 😁.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

Wait until he sees me in my new wet suit..🤣

Emma Peel...here I come!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

😁😁😁😁

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Remember Mrs Peel every time you put it on, assume the karate chop pose and hum the theme tune 😀

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Just as well you got it in black. If it was available in yellow and black you wouldn't be Emma Peel but instead Banana Peel. 😆

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to nowster]

Funny man!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

😂😂

[misswobble Marathon]

Way to go Floss! Sounds like a whole new world of fun 👍😀

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

Thanks you...I figure that at 71 and 11 twelfths today...I should try anything I fancy??,

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Absolutely !

My mate has just taken the plunge too. She lives practically on the beach and started off paddle boarding. She met some winter swimming ladies and they invited her to join them at their swims. She has a short sleeved, knee length wet suit. She wears rubber ankle boots . She’s got the dry coat too You’d have to 🥶😁

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

I have the after-swim robe already ..Christmas gift! I very always swum in the sea, even in October...but..since losing so much weight ..I feel the cold more ..I was out running when I got invited to join them..x

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

I’ve put 8 pounds on and am struggling to shift it. Being benched isn’t helping 🙄.

My friend has got more used to the freezing North Sea pretty quick. Having the robe to put on once out of it the wet suit is key. Fortunately she’s within yards of home. She has life vests for her dogs and they’re happy to go in with her 🙂

Don’t ever forgot your robe! 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

I won't...I am trying to put the weight back on for running...but the overworry blip raised the cortisol levels which caused weight loss loss because I don't eat stuff which puts weight on fast..its hard. But I am getting there!It also caused a pre diabetes result..which has settled now...!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

I don’t eat that stuff either but I’ve managed to plonk 8 lbs on without trying ☺️ Mind you not running hasn’t helped

[CBDB]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 (I’m so intrigued it’s left me speechless) 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to CBDB]

Ha ha...well..watch this space x

[Oldgirlruns 10 Miles]

I don’t know about makes OF but there are some types that have a lining which helps get them on and off when wet - otherwise they tend to hermetically seal themselves to you! Or is it just me that has that problem?!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Oldgirlruns]

I will let you know.. I'm hoping it will be waiting for me when we get home. roseabi has already given me some tips about zips! I am going to have to take Mr. OF with me everywhere I am swimming

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Good luck with it. Hubby bought me a wetsuit for Christmas but I haven't tried it yet, sticking with a bikini for now. We have a lady in our group who is very thin and we did have a day where she stayed in too long and we needed to help reward her. She was OK in a few hours though, she just forgot to watch the time. The key thing is to pay attention to your body and its signals 👍🏻

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I once stayed out a bit too long and got really really cold - I only had a 5 minute walk home but I was struggling because I was shivering so much! There's a thing called "after drop" I later found out, where the core temperature continues to fall after you've finished swimming (or running in fact):

outdoorswimmingsociety.com/...

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

So helpful...thank you..I have had that, drop, very occasionally after a cold run!

Mr OF Ns I are going to some trial swims at a safe small beach we know, first.!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Yes! It happens when once we’ve stopped running. I couldn’t warm up last week when my car broke down. I got so cold even in the car I had a warm bath and then got into bed 🥶

Goose grease seems to have fallen out of fashion. Might be due for a comeback 🙂

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Unless you're doing roast potatoes at Christmas.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to nowster]

Ooh now you’re talking 😋

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to nowster]

Oh yes!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Talking about goose grease, do you remember the Victoria Wood sketch about her character swimming the channel? I loved her 😍 but you wouldn’t get away with the sketch nowadays …..

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Yes I do indeed. I love her stuff 🥰. Yep, I thought of her when I posted it.

The world is a lesser place without her in it. I was reading about places local to where I’m headed in May, and came across a shop called Acorn Antiques. I was checking out running routes of course 😀

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

😍

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Yes, a classic bit of tragi-comedy.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

And brown paper..my Nan swore by it, for a chest cold!!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

My grandad used to wrap his feet in brown paper. Don’t know about the vinegar though Apparently connected to trench foot

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks for this..this us why I want the wet suit and Mr OF bought me a super warm dry robe at Christmas. The group have given me loads of tips too..incuding a hot water bottle under their clothes in their kitbag which means they are warm to put on?

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Yea, for really cold days I have those reusable hand warmers (with the little disc inside you click and they go hot) I tuck 2 in my waistband, one front, one back, to help with the warming. I don't use a bottle but do have lots of layers, including waterproof trousers to cut the wind (if any) and 3 jackets.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I got some “waterproof” trousers for Christmas. Turns out they’re anything but. I went home from walking the dog with a wet back, legs and butt 😤

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

🙈 I paid a small fortune for these from OMM... I'm hoping they're going to fare a bit better! 🤞🏻

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Of mountains and more 😀. You’ll be fine with those. My running nemesis wears all their stuff. She’s probably one of their runners. Last time I clapped eyes on her she was wearing a Kamleika jacket.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

I've got the Kamleika smock, it's pretty good in the rain so far. 👍🏻

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I got a waterproof for Christmas that’s been well used already. Hopefully by the time I get back to running proper I won’t need it 😆🌝😎

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Oh yes...thanks xx