The rules...

andissandiss Senior Member
edited June 2016 in Event Announcements

I take it people may now a tiny bit about the unofficial road cycling rules...about matching your kit with the colour of the bike, sock lengths etc. http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/ So...i guess swimming has similiar unspoken rules / guidelines. This is bit of irony mixed in of course. Ill start with a few, rule 1 is from the actual rules

Rule 1: Allowed swim material - one swimsuit made of porous, textile material. For males, the suit must not extend below the knee or above the waist. For females it must not extend below the knee, onto the neck, or beyond the shoulder. One bathing cap made of latex or silicone. Goggles, earplugs, and noseclips. Sunscreen and grease. Safety lights for night visibility.

Rule 2: Harden the feck up - the water is never too cold to swim in.

Rule 3: It's all about the swim - short or long - any swim is better than no swim.

Rule 4: Take your turn - Applies for groups swims only - Nobody likes a drafter. You might think you’re playing a smart tactical game by letting everyone else do the work while you drafting. Do take your turn in the front.

Rule 5: Shut Up - Don't stop and chat during the swim, you can talk before or after

Rule 6: After Swim Food - A swim should always be followed by food - no exceptions. Preferably home made cake. Pizza is also allowed.

Rule 7: Tan lines should be cultivated and kept razor sharp. - Under no circumstances should one be changing swimgear in an effort to somehow diminish one’s tan lines.

Rule 8: If you swim in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period. Fair-weather swimming is a luxury reserved for sunday afternoons and sunny holidays.

Rule 9: Wetsuits are for triathletes - Self explanatory

Rule 10: Kit should be black - Briefs, jammers or swimsuits should preferably be black.

Rule 11: Eyewear shall be swimming specific. - No diving or snorkling googles allowed. Preferably wear swedes

Rule 12: No tow floats - Spare googles, drink, food, keys, wallet, sunblock or grease should be stored at the beach or with your escort boat or paddler.

NoelFigartevmosuziedodsKTpumphreyMaryStellaRoeldavid_barraloneswimmerSolochatter97

Comments

  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    let's please not turn this place into the velominati. Some of their articles are interesting, but a lot of them make me think they are more concerned with looking good than actually riding their bike.

    Sometimes, the water IS too cold to swim in. Some times, people are more interested in triathlons than long swims. Sometimes, people want to have a leisurely group swim with chats at feed stops. Not everyone likes swedes. If I'm swimming with someone who either doesn't know where we're going, or isn't quite as strong, as long as they aren't tapping my feet, I don't care if they draft off of me. And, I'm usually not hungry right after I eat. Some people have legitimate reasons for wearing a wetsuit, or just don't care and wear one anyway.

    And my wife feels a lot more comfortable if I'm swimming parallel to the beach if I'm wearing a tow-float/safer swimmer/whatever.

    Everyone swims for different reasons, at different levels of seriousness, and at different levels of competitiveness. I have my rules for me, other people have their own rules for them. Please, let's not turn this place into velominati.

    If that happens, then I'm out.

    andissJenArosemarymintthelittlemerwookieDanSimonelli
  • LynneLynne Member

    I believe it was meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek @timsroot, I don't think Andiss was planning a swiminati.
    I like rule 7 @andiss - I have tried to change swim gear to blot out some lines... only to end up looking like a jigsaw puzzle :)

    evmosuziedodsloneswimmerChrisB
  • loneswimmerloneswimmer IrelandCharter Member
    edited June 2016

    Here's my general list from a couple of years ago.

    1: If another swimmer is in difficulty, you must assist where possible. Forget the race, the title, your dreams, the sponsors. You are not required to put yourself at risk however.

    2: Always think safety. The best safety decision are (yawn, here I go again) made outside the water.

    3: Don’t cheat. Don’t lie or mislead supporters, sponsors, charities fans, media, friends or anyone at all, about what you are doing or planning to do. In a way this is the most common and unspoken rule of all sports, and observed by the breaking as well as by the adherence.

    4: If another swimmer has a pioneering swim planned, do not steal it, by getting in before them, just to do it first. It doesn’t matter what your relationship is with the other person, this just shouldn’t be done.

    5: You do not bootleg or pirate a swim where an official organisation exists to govern that swim.

    6: Give back. Open water swimming is only possible through the actions of volunteers. Make sure you are doing something to help others, the variety of ways in which you can do so is very wide. You aren’t obliged to insert yourself into everything but you can organise an event, or maybe you can assist another. You don’t have to be a great swimmer, you don’t have to have a huge ego. You can be safety, marshall traffic, crew on boats, even write a blog. Hell, no-one knows better than a few of us that any average swimmer can get involved in something big. The range of ways in which you can contribute the sport is far wider than immediately obvious, and it’s up to you how you want to contribute, not to others to dictate to you. This one is less obviously a sport rule and crosses also into the culture domain.

    7: Where applicable, follow the Two Golden Rules. (Disclose all the rules being used, such as the Marathon Swimming Federation Rules, and use an Independent experienced Observer).

    Edit: This post was not a "cultural response". It was a lazy posting of something old. I wholeheartedly support @Andiss' HUMOUR. Both can co-exist.

    evmoNoelFigartandisstimsrootJenATheosuziedodsslknightSpacemanspiffRoelrosemarymintthelittlemerwookieDanSimonelliKate_AlexanderKari33

    loneswimmer.com

  • andissandiss Senior Member
    edited June 2016

    Its very much tounge-in-cheek from me. :)

    suziedodsLynneloneswimmer
  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    andiss said:
    Its very much tounge-in-cheek from me. :)

    Sorry I didn't pick up on that, @andiss. The kid didn't want to sleep last night, and my wife and I are both breaking down due to lack of sleep, so this morning wasn't my best morning.

    suziedods
  • suziedodssuziedods Mem​ber

    Pizza , cake, burgers.. only allowable food. Oh and for those who like it.. beer, For those who don't coke, full on.. no diet cr*p.

    Sololoneswimmer
  • SpacemanspiffSpacemanspiff Dallas, TexasSenior Member

    andiss said:
    Rule 10: Kit should be black - Briefs, jammers or swimsuits should preferably be black.

    Rule 12: No tow floats - Spare googles, drink, food, keys, wallet, sunblock or grease should be stored at the beach or with your escort boat or paddler.

    All of these rules are awesome, except 10 & 12 to which I vehemently object!! :-O

    Black is lame! I only wear bright colors/patterns. I have Hawaiian flowers, jolly rogers, national flags, fish, sharks, cartoons, modern art, etc. Out of the 30+ suits in my swim drawer, I doubt I could find a single navy or black one.

    And the drag buoy is a must for those of us who never use escorts! Check out this bad boy I'm asking for my birthday (for multi-day solos):

    slide4a
    slide3a

    Chrisgreenedpm50mpfmarkdavid_barraDanSimonelliChrisBKate_Alexander

    "Lights go out and I can't be saved
    Tides that I tried to swim against
    Have brought be down upon my knees
    Oh I beg, I beg and plead..."

  • SpacemanspiffSpacemanspiff Dallas, TexasSenior Member

    suziedods said:
    Pizza , cake, burgers.. only allowable food. Oh and for those who like it.. beer, For those who don't coke, full on.. no diet cr*p.

    "May be consumed before, during or after the swim"

    suziedodsdpm50ChrisgreeneDanSimonelli

    "Lights go out and I can't be saved
    Tides that I tried to swim against
    Have brought be down upon my knees
    Oh I beg, I beg and plead..."

  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member

    LOL Andiss! But rule 10, I don't know...I like it when everyone is wearing something different, expressing their individuality...so I can tell who it is under water.

    I have different "rules" for racing and training. I tend to buy suits as cheaply as I can find them, since I wear out a lot of them, so occasionally I end up with one that is not my color, pink. In fact, I'm the exact opposite of a "pink" kind of gal, (remember, I cut the sleeves off my MSF shirt). The suit I currently train (OW) in is white with pinkish flowers, then my friend got me a pink cap to go with it. I went ahead and embraced the pinkness, because it's not badass. Diving into Puget Sound and swimming with the seals can be badass, so I do that in my not-badass pink suit/cap. I even put a pink strap on my goggles. It makes diving off a dock into the harbor, on a day when the boaters are wearing parkas, seem even more ridiculous.

    Race day is another matter however. On race day, you might want the competition to think you are badass before you ever get wet. That's when I go with the slick Agon kneeskin in black with skulls and mirrored goggles. Going in stealth might be another strategy if you don't want anyone to suspect you might need to be watched. I swam against this woman 20 years ago who showed up in a pink recreational style suit and proceeded to torch the field. To this day, I really respect that kind of confidence and it proves that you can't judge swimmers by looking at them.

    Rule 12, floats. Yes for training, never in a race. I'm skipping a race that I like due to a rule requiring floats.

    All in good fun.

    suziedods

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • JenAJenA Charter Member
    edited June 2016

    Yeah, I'm not getting a tongue-in-cheek vibe at all. I don't find anything funny about this. Other than eating after a training swim, all of these feel inappropriate to me:

    @andiss said:
    For males, the suit must not extend below the knee or above the waist. For females it must not extend below the knee, onto the neck, or beyond the shoulder.

    This is, literally, sexist. Sexist! I realise the MSF rules reflect this male/female binary, but your suit choice should not be forced by your man/lady bits. Picture how someone who is transgendered would try to fit themselves into our culture. I hope there is an MSF Rules 1.1 at some point. No one should need to "out" themselves as transgendered in order to adhere to the MSF rules.

    Rule 2: Harden the feck up - the water is never too cold to swim in.

    Frozen water is too cold to swim in. ;-)

    Rule 3: It's all about the swim - short or long - any swim is better than no swim. Anyone saying anything else is a twat.

    This is name-calling.

    Rule 4: Take your turn - Applies for groups swims only - Nobody likes a drafter. You might think you’re playing a smart tactical game by letting everyone else do the work while you drafting. Do take your turn in the front.

    This isn't my experience with group swims. Everyone sort of spreads out and goes at their own pace. No one drafts or leads.

    Rule 5: Shut Up - Don't stop and chat during the swim, you can talk before or after

    Stopping to chat during a swim helps assess hypothermia. When I was swimming with Marcia Cleveland's group, we'd all meet "back at the bar" (a buoy we lashed our drinks to) in a certain period of time to refuel and assess each other. Also, if you are hallucinating, sensory stimulation (such as conversation) can be helpful.

    Rule 7: Tan lines should be cultivated and kept razor sharp. - Under no circumstances should one be changing swimgear in an effort to somehow diminish one’s tan lines.

    Hmm. More like sunblock use should be cultivated... Limiting sun exposure by varying swimwear seems reasonable.

    Rule 8: If you swim in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period. Fair-weather swimming is a luxury reserved for sunday afternoons and sunny holidays.

    Swimming in exceptionally bad weather can mean you lack safety judgement skills... I think most of us take (and enjoy) the fair weather swimming as it comes.

    Rule 9: Wetsuits are for triathletes - Self explanatory

    A strong swimmer who chooses one should be respected for their choice. No one is in a position to tell someone else what's right for them. Someone might feel comfortable swimming alone for 2 hours at 60 degrees, but not at 50 degrees. If they know they can safely manage 2 hours alone at 50 degrees with a wetsuit, then that seems reasonable and prudent to me.

    Rule 10: Kit should be black - Briefs, jammers or swimsuits should preferably be black.

    So you look like a seal?! Heck no. See this study which concluded that sharks are more likely to attack swimmers wearing black and white suits.

    Rule 11: Eyewear shall be swimming specific. - No diving or snorkling googles allowed. Preferably wear swedes

    This is the first time I've seen equipment-ism in this sport.

    Rule 12: No tow floats - Spare googles, drink, food, keys, wallet, sunblock or grease should be stored at the beach or with your escort boat or paddler.

    If you are swimming alone and/or and don't want your stuff stolen, a float can be a good decision for anti-theft/visibility purposes.


    I appreciate @loneswimmer's list of shared cultural values. To his list I would add:

    Don't inflated the details of your swim. Any press on your swim should be viewed as accurate (and without omitting critical details, such as assisted/unassisted status) by the swimming community. Discourage the press from using adjectives such as "frigid", "treacherous", and "shark/Jellyfish-infested" and supply them with non-judgemental facts such as the water temperature, and the peak tidal knots. Don't scare off current or future marathon swimmers by misrepresenting the difficulty of your swim.

    timsroot
  • JenAJenA Charter Member
    edited June 2016

    For everyone whose eyes lit up at the idea of @Spacemanspiff 's yellow boat, here's what I've found:

    http://swimboat.uk
    http://www.theboatyardatbeer.com/blog/?author=1&paged=2

    dpm50Kate_AlexanderChrisBHelbeEyalSch
  • Some more:

    A. Never wear a music delivery device--listen to your breathing

    B. If you're swimming with somebody on a training swim, swim alongside, not half a body ahead or behind

    C. Budget time after the swim to eat, drink, and chat. If you have five swimmers for a two-hour swim, you've accumulated 10 hours of experiences to share. That takes a lot of time and alcohol.

    D. Don't expect anybody but other open water swimmers to give a rat's ass about your swimming. They think you're crazy and it just makes them uncomfortable to hear about your swimming.

    E. Don't be a yardage whore. If you log your yardage (or meterage), keep it to yourself. Don't ever say..."I need to get in another 1500 yards."

    MaryStellaJaimieChrisgreenedpm50Roelthelittlemerwookiedc_in_sfLynnesuziedodsloneswimmermjstaplesKate_Alexander
  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    JenA said:
    @For everyone whose eyes lit up at the idea of @Spacemanspiff 's yellow boat, here's what I've found:

    http://swimboat.uk
    http://www.theboatyardatbeer.com/blog/?author=1&paged=2

    That is brilliant. I want one.

  • rosemarymintrosemarymint Charleston, SCCharter Member

    Bob_Singer said:
    D. Don't expect anybody but other open water swimmers to give a rat's ass about your swimming. They think > you're crazy and it just makes them uncomfortable to hear about your swimming.

    I need to remember this much much more.

    dpm50suziedods
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member
    edited June 2016

    I have, in fact, consumed beer during running events. In every case, I already felt wasted and abysmally slow. The beer didn't take away pain, just helped me forget it was there. At mile 12 of a half marathon I was running with a chest cold (not recommended btw), I jokingly asked the volunteers if they had beer. Why yes, of course, the volunteer answered. And he took out a bottle and poured some into a cup. I couldn't say no at that point. .. and admittedly didn't want to. ;)

    That beer went down well! Time remains to this day a personal worst, but I was pleasantly looped by the time I finished (2nd in my age group as it happened). ... Maybe I should see if the brewer would pay me for an endorsement after all these years.

    As for drafting off other swimmers. ... that presupposes that I'm somewhere near the person's wake, which doesn't happen at my speed.

    Spacemanspiff said:

    suziedods said:
    Pizza , cake, burgers.. only allowable food. Oh and for those who like it.. beer, For those who don't coke, full on.. no diet cr*p.

    "May be consumed before, during or after the swim"

    suziedodsrosemarymint
  • NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member

    I'd be scared to drink swimming. I downed more than I was keeping track of at the beach once and then decided that hey, body surfing would be a great idea.

    It scared the hell out of me in terms of mixing alcohol and swimming.

    suziedodsrosemarymintdpm50
  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin
    edited June 2016

    This thread has been restored from an unfortunate wholesale deletion last night, which I have overruled. Forum members may delete individual comments, but not entire discussions.

    It's a fun topic, thank you @andiss for the idea!

    suziedodsrosemarymintdpm50ssthomasIronMike
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member

    Totally agree with #10 with minor exceptions to include all other colors, patterns etc
    Even sparkles

    dpm50wendyv34

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member
    edited June 2016

    I might on occasion combine alcohol with running (though not if running alone), but only in moderation. I wouldn't combine it w swimming, especially not ocean swimming. But I understand that Matthew Webb took some nips of whisky in his EC crossing so there's that precedent. BUT....what color swimsuit did he wear? ;)

    NoelFigart said:
    I'd be scared to drink swimming. I downed more than I was keeping track of at the beach once and then decided that hey, body surfing would be a great idea.

    It scared the hell out of me in terms of mixing alcohol and swimming.

  • NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member
    edited June 2016

    I thought it was brandy, but hey.

    As far as his suit, I've always visualized red, but that's mostly because I'm fond of _Three Men and a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) _and Jerome K Jerome comments how he liked a red bathing costume. So, that's my headcannon because they were both Victorian men. Arbitrary, but that's tradition, too, right?

    dpm50IronMike
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    On second thought, yeah, brandy sounds right....some manner of distilled beverage anyway. As the saying goes, "Don't try this at home, kids!" :)

    NoelFigart said:
    I thought it was brandy, but hey.

    As far as his suit, I've always visualized red, but that's mostly because I'm fond of _Three Men and a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) _and Jerome K Jerome comments how he liked a red bathing costume. So, that's my headcannon because they were both Victorian men. Arbitrary, but that's tradition, too, right?

  • andissandiss Senior Member
    edited June 2016

    all, note these are just a first stab and these "rules" will of course change and be amended. here's a few more suggestions! :) :) :)

    Rule 13: Other sports - when not swimming one is allowed to do some form of paddle sport (kayaking, surfing etc). Boxing and Weight lifting is also allowed. Sports like cycling and running should be avoided as they are bad for you.

    Rule 14: Swim Cap - the swim cap should be of an as bright neon color as possible. If you would get hold of a Sandycove 500 or 1000 lap cap it should be worn at all times. Neoprene skull caps are not allowed to swim in. Preferably one should not buy swim caps. Swim caps should be gained from the races you do.

    Rule 15: Swim gear storage - your swim gear should always be packed in a bag and ready as you might be able to sneak in a swim. This will mean your gear is always damp and may to start to smell. This is ok - as you might occasionally visit a chlorinated pool - this will kill any smell. Preferably use a net bag or any back pack or water tight bag. Note your are allowed to rinse off the gear with fresh water but the swim gear should never be allowed to hang dry overnight or stored away.

    Rule 16: Goggle Straps - Straps should always be worn OVER the swim cap.

    loneswimmerNoelFigartChrisgreeneLynnerosemarymintsuziedodsdpm50DanSimonelli
  • loneswimmerloneswimmer IrelandCharter Member

    I much prefer @Andiss' list to my boring one. I'm only entitled to wear a Sandycove 100 lap cap though so that's me fucked.

    Porpoise juice or channel grease you mix yourself as the only allowable lube. Porpoises aren't yet endangered so you are fine. You may mix the lanolin and petroleum to whatever ratio you like, so long as it includes 2% sand.

    rosemarymintsuziedodsDanSimonelli

    loneswimmer.com

  • ChrisgreeneChrisgreene Mercersburg PA/Atlanta, GAMember

    Andiss' #15 is almost as if he knew me. My swim bag has bean continuously packed and traveling with me for 20+ years. The only exceptions are when my bag wears out and I transfer the contents to a new bag. Each time I do that I find things in there that make me feel like I'm opening a time capsule.

    andissrosemarymintsuziedods
  • LynneLynne Member

    in reference to rule 15... when I open the car boot (trunk), my gear stands up and greets me

    rosemarymintsuziedodsNoelFigartdpm50DanSimonelli
  • suziedodssuziedods Mem​ber
    edited June 2016

    #15- When my niece was about 3( she's now 23) she asked me as I walked into my parents house, dragging a rather large over the shoulder bag with, well, you all know.. STUFF, she said "Aunt Suzie? Why do you always have your swimming bag with you?"
    Because ,dear Katie.. you just never know...

    She has become a stalwart at the #24HourRelay as well.

    NoelFigartChrisgreenedpm50
  • NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member

    Oh gosh, this makes me feel better. I've always felt like a guilty slob because I didn't find a way to unpack my swim bag before work and hang everything out to dry nicely. (My mother was a martinet about bathing suit care when I was a child)

    The best I do is to have a few suits and swap 'em out and have my gear dry overnight after I get home from work.

  • ssthomasssthomas DenverCharter Mem​ber

    Here's a rule: You car must always be filled with sand/rocks/pebbles/dirt and smell faintly like mildew. Any attempt to clean your car should be shunned by others.

    I usually carry a gear bag as mentioned in #15, but more often than not, swim suits, slightly damp towels, caps, goggles, sun screen, dirty flip flops, etc are strung out the back of my car in varying degrees of drying, all mixed in with the dirt/gravel from the lake. My husband hates my car because it always smells like a steamy pool (in the winter) or a steamy lake (in the summer).

    lakesprayChrisgreenedpm50DanSimonelliandiss
  • lakespraylakespray Senior Member

    Sorry for male swimmers, no jammers allowed. If your a true open water guy, it's a tattered old square cut even better a mesh draggie.

    Chrisgreeneandiss
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Okay, other stuff I'm good with (although forgive me if I take the gear out at night.... don't hate! I have neighbors downstairs). I have some bright color caps from races, so I'm on that!

    But not RUNNING? That's my other sport! Also my coach even TELLS me to run some days! I was primarily a runner before I started o.w. swimming. (No plans to run for prez, though!).

    Hope you'll have mercy!

    @andiss wrote

    Rule 13: Other sports - when not swimming one is allowed to do some form of paddle sport (kayaking, surfing etc). Boxing and Weight lifting is also allowed. Sports like cycling and running should be avoided as they are bad for you.

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    NoelFigart said:
    As far as his suit, I've always visualized red, but that's mostly because I'm fond of _Three Men and a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) _and Jerome K Jerome comments how he liked a red bathing costume. So, that's my headcannon because they were both Victorian men. Arbitrary, but that's tradition, too, right?

    Best. Book. Ever.

    dpm50

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • DanSimonelliDanSimonelli San Diego CASenior Member
    edited June 2016

    #15,
    If I had a nickel for every time someone walked by me at my car either before or after swim and said, "wow, do you live in your car"...;)

    dpm50Chrisgreenesuziedods
  • andissandiss Senior Member

    The no running or cycling rule is due to the risk of loosing weight.....

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Yesterday, I did a 2100m pool practice, then ran 40 minutes, then did about 2400m o.w. bringing my total since Friday to 12,700 yards... (light by MSF standards, granted, but after the o.w. swim I had lunch w/ the coach and another swimmer--a pretty generous lunch, then got home and was still hungry so didn't skimp on dinner either--or beer (yes, I got that in!). Yet w/ all that food... neither loss nor gain. ;) I tend to hold steady at around the midpoint prescribed for my height. Grocery bills... that's a whole 'nother thing....

    andiss said:
    The no running or cycling rule is due to the risk of loosing weight.....

  • andissandiss Senior Member

    Nice one!! i probably lost weight!

    i did 2hours of paddleboard, surfski and little swimming yesterday...and just a big dinner....

    dpm50
  • rosemarymintrosemarymint Charleston, SCCharter Member

    andiss said:
    The no running or cycling rule is due to the risk of loosing weight.....

    Or making your legs too dense so that they don't float as well. #triathleteproblems

    andisssuziedods
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Floating is one of the first things I learned as a kid and still enjoy it. Even after a lot of running, I've not lost the ability to lie back, relax, and look up at the sky, hands clasped behind my head. Of course that's for between swims. I don't do too well w kick sets, nor do I kick much, though w a pull buoy, I exceed my non pull buoy 100 yds by around 10-15 seconds easily. Maybe that's where the runner's legs are a liability.

    rosemarymint said:

    andiss said:
    The no running or cycling rule is due to the risk of loosing weight.....

    Or making your legs too dense so that they don't float as well. #triathleteproblems

  • andissandiss Senior Member

    Rule 17 - your car Your car should show the level of swimming commitment - I.e. Your rather spend money on swims than on your car. Preferably you drive your work van.

    dpm50NoelFigartsuziedodssmith
  • andissandiss Senior Member

    @Bob_Singer said:
    Some more:

    A. Never wear a music delivery device--listen to your breathing

    B. If you're swimming with somebody on a training swim, swim alongside, not half a body ahead or behind

    C. Budget time after the swim to eat, drink, and chat. If you have five swimmers for a two-hour swim, you've accumulated 10 hours of experiences to share. That takes a lot of time and alcohol.

    D. Don't expect anybody but other open water swimmers to give a rat's ass about your swimming. They think you're crazy and it just makes them uncomfortable to hear about your swimming.

    E. Don't be a yardage whore. If you log your yardage (or meterage), keep it to yourself. Don't ever say..."I need to get in another 1500 yards."

    love these

    So I'm livening up this thread up again! With one more suggestion

    1. Hot water - one should always have hot water ready when swimming, can be used for post swim drink, rinse off or for weaver fish stings!

      :D

    Solodpm50
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