Loving Lanolin…Or Not
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Open water swimmers, especially channel swimmers and marathon swimmers, have an interesting relationship with lanolin.
They use lanolin for prevent chafing or to reduce the initial shock of cold water. They use lanolin with Vaseline or Desitin or Safe Sea or other ointments and creams or anti-chafe spray lubricant like TriSlide.
When putting on lanolin, a variety of thoughts pass through the minds of open water swimmers:
“This stuff smells.”
“Smells like a marathon swim is getting ready to start.”
“I hope this doesn’t get on my goggles.”
“Better not get this lanolin on my clothes.”
“If I heat it up more, it might be easier to put on.”
“I can’t wait to get this stuff off.”
“It will come off in the water anyway, after a few hours.”
“This stuff will never come off.”
“Where are my rubber gloves?“
“Who is going to put this stuff on me?“
“How thick should I put it on?“
“This is going to feel good.”
“I hate how this feels.”
“Who came up with this stuff?“
“I wonder what porpoise oil feels like?“
“Hope the water is warm.”
“How did they make goose fat way back when?“
Copyright © 2016 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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