Any triathletes / open water swimmers? Where can I practice?

[gingerpaul]

Hi all. I'm doing my first triathlon soon and whilst training has mostly been going ok I was thinking I should really get some open water swimming practice in. The one I'm doing is in Windsor where the swimming will in the Thames. Can I just jump in the Thames and have a splash about or are the rules against this? Am I likely to get a life boat chasing me? Google has not revealed all that much.

Thanks in advance!

[anonymous-user]

ask on www.220triathlon.com website forum, i think there are regular open water sessions at dorney lake in eton but thats a bit of a trek from bracknell. there might be some local rivers that other triathletes use.

no idea about the thames but i imagine the current would be pretty strong in places.

[Fume troll]

Have a look here too: http://www.wildswimming.co.uk/wild-swimming-south....

Cheers,

FT.

[krusty]

There's an open water swimming club at the Copthorne Millennium Hotel near Reading.

[Vladimir]

Fine to swim in various reservoirs around you.

Definitely do it though - pool swimming isn't enough.

On the last two tris I did, it was obvious who'd done no open water swimming the second we got into the water (both open water swims).

Oh and good luck!

[Gargamel]

gingerpaul said:

Hi all. I'm doing my first triathlon soon and whilst training has mostly been going ok I was thinking I should really get some open water swimming practice in. The one I'm doing is in Windsor where the swimming will in the Thames. Can I just jump in the Thames and have a splash about or are the rules against this? Am I likely to get a life boat chasing me? Google has not revealed all that much.

Thanks in advance!

OK to swin in the Thames, above the tidal section the current is ok for a reasonable swimmer, just don't go in after heavy rains....

Check you entry and exit points carefully and ideally have a spotter on the bank.

[gingerpaul]

Brilliant, thanks for the information.

So I could go to the Queen Mother Reservoir, park up at the sailing club car park for example and just go for a swim? Sounds like a good place to start.

As for the in the Thames, I am a pretty good swimmer but have no experience of swimming in strong currents. I've swam about in the sea a bit but recently I've been attached to or been retrieving a surf board. The triathlon I'm doing is actually in the Thames in Windsor so if I do the same course that I'll be doing next month then hopefully it shouldn't be a dodgy area for it. Might get some funny looks from the tourists though. I might try the reservoir first as a tester though so I don't have currents to worry about.

Does all that sound sensible?

[Disco_Dale]

I'm by no means a triathlete, but I do know reservoirs can have strong currents.

[gingerpaul]

Disco_Dale said:

I'm by no means a triathlete, but I do know reservoirs can have strong currents.

Ahhh bugger. I'm going to end up drowning myself aren't I...

[baxb]

There is open water swimming at Datchet or Little Marlow, details here http://www.openwaterswim.co.uk/

I swam at Datchet last Sunday morning & assuming you have a wetsuit the water temp was ok.

[Fourmotion]

I think the best water in the area is at Datchet lake. It's also reasonably priced at £5 a go, which is about the same as most swimming pools. If you're there when one of their races is on you can listen in to Richard Stannard, who offers a lot of of good tips on open water swimming and getting your wetsuit sitting right.

There is also the Princes Club in Bedfont, which apaprently has been cleared of it's reed problem, and improved safety measures since the accident. I know it didn't happen during a swim session, but the fact that they used a tow boat next to the swimming area always made me a bit nervous.

I've not been, but there is a place in Camberley called The Quays that has swimming some nights too.

[gingerpaul]

Datchet and Little Marlow look perfect. I'll have to pop down and give them a go! Thanks for all your help!