By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — When the temperature starts to rise, local triathletes know it’s time to go to work in the water.
Last Friday night was the start of the open water swims in Peddie Lake.
“The purpose of the weekly swims is to provide local triathletes with a place to practice their open water swimming,” Tom Eng, of Robbinsville, co-race director of the Hightstown Triathlon, said. “People need time to prepare for their next triathlons and several triathlons in New Jersey have already taken place in May.”
He said he doesn’t know of any other locations in this part of New Jersey that has organized and insured practice swims.
“The other choices are to go down by the New Jersey shore where there are some tri-clubs that offer group swims and clinics or towards Pennsylvania or Southern New Jersey,” he said. “Either way it would be 45 minutes to an hour drive from East Windsor to any other swim location.”
There’s no substitute for experience when it comes to open water swimming, according to Mr. Eng.
“Having a session nearly every week until the Hightstown Triathlon will give people the opportunity to really get comfortable in the open water,” he said.
Last week, the water temperature was very warm — in the high 70s, he said.
“A wet suit is not needed in this temperature range,” he said.
Each week, Mr. Eng ensures the lake water is safe for swimming by collecting water samples, which he gets tested for E. coli and fecal bacteria.
“I am bringing the water samples to New Jersey Analytical Laboratories (NJAL) in Ewing and paying for it myself,” he said. “We must conform to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection standards for swimming in lakewater.”
He said that some people think Peddie Lake is dirty but the tests results indicate otherwise.
“The water color is not indicative of harmful elements in the water,” he said. “In fact, having swam in many venues, I would rank Peddie Lake at the top for clarity and taste — yes, some water gets in my mouth when I swim.”
The open swims at Peddie Lake take place most Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.
“Anyone who is proficient enough to swim a few hundred yards without stopping is welcome to come,” he said. “We have a lifeguard overseeing everyone on a kayak from the center of our triangle course but her function is to rescue people in a dangerous situation. She cannot follow or escort people around the lake.”
He said endurance training coach Jason Kilderry is coming to the lake three times this season to teach an open water swim clinic.
The USA Triathlon sanctions the Peddie Lake Open Water Swim, providing the insurance for swimmers. USA Triathlon members can participate in the open swim at a cost of $10 for the person’s first swim of the season and $5 for subsequent swim practices. Non-members pay $12 per swim. A season pass costs $30.
For additional information, visit the Central Jersey Open Water Swims Facebook page at www.facebook.com/peddielakeswim.
