I have been swimming for about 6 months now and I don't know what the next step is. I know there are meets and open water swims and I am not sure which one I should do. It seems like the training for one does not overlap with the other. How do I know which one I should do? I swim a mile in about 35 minutes in a pool but the one open water swim I did was slower (I jut swam in a lake, no idea how far or how long. It was just me swimming). I love doing the breaststroke and ended up doing some of it during the open water swim. When I ran, I was better at the middle distance races but I don't know if that translates into the water. Any advice?
It seems like the training for one does not overlap with the other.
Curious why you think this is the case? To me swimming is swimming. I do all my training in a pool, but still enjoy doing open water races and feel that pool training adequately prepares me.
How do I know which one I should do?
Why not do both?
Try both. Almost all of open water swimmers do most to all of their training in the pool. Find local, low key pool and OW events for your first foray into these competitions. Even better, join a local USMS club a few weeks to months ahead of your 1st competition, get to know some people, get some advice, get some stroke and training pointers, and have fun.
Open water swims are fine, and doing one some or all breaststroke is fine,but if you want to swim breaststroke against people who are also swimming breaststroke ,then a meet is the place to go.
I bet your mid distance skills will start to emerge once you get your stroke right. Keep in mind swimming efficiently might take some time to pin down. It's been almost 4 years for me and I'm still constantly focusing on improving my much needed form.
I have been swimming for about 6 months now and I don't know what the next step is. I know there are meets and open water swims and I am not sure which one I should do. It seems like the training for one does not overlap with the other.
How do I know which one I should do?
I swim a mile in about 35 minutes in a pool but the one open water swim I did was slower (I jut swam in a lake, no idea how far or how long. It was just me swimming). I love doing the breaststroke and ended up doing some of it during the open water swim. When I ran, I was better at the middle distance races but I don't know if that translates into the water. Any advice?
decide
make a decision
pick none, one or both
make up your mind
Say this is what I'm going to do then do it.
Commit or quit
What are you going to do?
It seems that long distance open water training is opposite of what a 200 breaststroke would be training to do. That is why I think they are on opposite ends of the training spectrum. A sprint (say a freestyle 50) compared to a 2.4 mile swim.
