Hi Mark. Swimming in outdoor pools in California/Nevada presents lots
of opportunities to encounter water in the low 70s. I agree entirely
with you. When it's in the low 70s, the pools are empty of people.
Yes, the water feels cold. But I just tell myself, look, I'm perfectly
comfortable swimming in the ocean when it's in the low 60s, and when it
(rarely) gets up to the low 70s, it's like being in the Virgin Islands,
almost. So what's the big deal? And then I just get in and swim and
everything is just fine. It's totally a mental thing. But, when it's
in the low 70s, I don't like to do intervals. Just get in and swim
continuous laps.
For some reason, fresh water at a given temperature just seems a little
colder. This is what I glean from the cold pools with the broken
heaters. Seemed also to be "confirmed" once on a business trip to
Chicago, when I swam in Lake Michigan by the Navy Pier. Don't recall
the temp, but do remember that it seemed colder to me than I was
expecting, based on the reported water temp. Sure it's just a mental
thing, but it feels like a "true" phenomenon to me.
- Larry W