Linda Donaldson: Vaseline, Baby Oil and a Wetsuit - What More Could a Girl Need...

In this week's instalment of Linda's fitness blog, she reveals how to achieve a smoother swim.

You know you are becoming a triathlete when you open your gym bag to find a tub of vaseline, baby oil, talcum powder, a scattering of almonds, a few flapjacks and a tube of dry lube (for your bicycle chain!) in amongst your gym kit.

I am amazed at just how much more kit and accessories I need to train for a triathlon than for cycling.  My wetsuit is probably the biggest single financial outlay I have had after my bicycle.  And while a wet suit is an essential piece of kit for triathlon racing (some events insist you wear them for the swim) it is not necessarily essential if you fancy trying out an open water swim. Now for those of you reading this and quickly shrinking in horror at the thought, trust me if you have never ventured into a lake beyond ankle height then now really is the perfect time of year to try it.  The lake I swim in is currently around 16-18oc and you can swim comfortably without a wet suit, however, most places that provide open water swimming also offer the option to hire one for a few pounds, which means you can try it out and avoid the expensive of owning your own.

I would recommend the best way to start is preferably in a lake that is clearly designated for open water swimming. If you live near Cotswold Water Park then you are in luck as there are plenty lakes to choose from. My lake of choice is Lake 32, at Keynes Country Park near Cirencester.  It is extremely clear and clean and has the benefit of a marked buoyed course of 400 mtrs and 750 mtrs. You don’t need to be a member to swim there, although that does give you a greater choice of swim times, you can simply drive up and pay £5 on the gate on a Tuesday and Thursday evening and also on weekends (see ukwatersports.co.uk for full details). 

Always make sure you swim with someone, or at the very least have a person spotting you from the side of the lake as not all lakes provide lifeguards. Wear a swimming hat as it will keep your head and therefore body warm and wear a bright coloured one as it helps your friends keep track of where you are.  You will need a decent pair of googles and if you are wearing a wetsuit rub some Vaseline around your neckline to stop any rubbing – the first time I wore my wetsuit I forgot that tip and the back of my neck was red raw by the end of the swim – not pleasant and somewhat hard to explain!  The baby oil, in case you are wondering, is for your arms and legs and helps you get your wetsuit off quickly in a race situation, it is also much cheaper than the specialist slip and glide stuff the tri shops sell.  

When you first get into the water give yourself some time to acclimatise to the temperature. Often it is a bit of a shock to the system and so it’s worth bobbing up and down at the side while your heart rate regulates and you get your shoulders under.  Also, the first time you swim set yourself a realistic goal. Unlike a pool there is no 25m marker or pool side to stop at and get your breathe back so rather than attempting a non-stop lap of the whole course, do it a little bit at a time.  Agree with your swim partner to swim to say the first buoy and then stop to regroup, re-orientate and then move onto the next one.  It is a good tip to go steady rather than off at a pace you can’t maintain.   Be prepared for the odd fish to swim under you and around you and for a bit of weed to occasionally latch on to your arm.  Try to enjoy the feeling of stroking through the water, and remember there is nothing to panic about, it is just swimming but in very large pool!   Open water swimming is peaceful, relaxing and a much more pleasant experience than a chlorinated swimming pool.  Convinced?  Maybe I will see you at the lake.

@lindadonaldson1