I signed up for a 10 K swim in Atlantic City this September and am wondering if any open water swimming veterans out there have any tips for preventing or at least moderating the lower back pain that seems to always be triggered in me by very long distance freestyle events like this. I did the Chesapeake Bay swim in the late 90s, and getting out of the water at the end of the race was like a parody of the Evolution of Man from a squid to Homo Erectus, only in my case, I didn't quite make it to the standing position before collapsing in a heap of lower back spasms.
In any event, I suspect I will just have to suffer through the discomfort and hope a week or two of convalescence afterwards will restore me to my self. But again, any advice short of oxycontin shots in the lumbar region will be truly appreciated.
Thanks, guys, for the advice. Actually, my back is sore from pool swimming--no ocean nearby to practice in for us Pittsburghers. I have been doing continuous swims in 25 yard pools. (So far, my best one was 7200 in 97 minutes.) Usually my back is pretty stiff by the end of these despite trying to keep my head down and not doing any sighting whatsoever. I figure that's a skill I will figure out when it becomes impossible to ignore...
I have also been wondering about two other factors in the AC 10k. These are:
1) how much swimming do you actually do if you finish the thing? it's 10 k as the crow flies, right? so with the inevitable meandering that comes from not swimming perfectly straight, do you know how far the average person actually swims?
2) to what extent does the "strong incoming tide" help swimmers? If I get truly exhausted, can I roll on my back and count on the tide to push me, like a "floater" on one of the CSI shows, to the finish line?
Thanks again for the advice. Leonard, I too would like to meet you. I'm the guy whose thinning hair looks a bit like a rabid raccoon's pelt thanks to 97 minute doses of chlorine therapy.
Thanks, guys, for the advice. Actually, my back is sore from pool swimming--no ocean nearby to practice in for us Pittsburghers. I have been doing continuous swims in 25 yard pools. (So far, my best one was 7200 in 97 minutes.) Usually my back is pretty stiff by the end of these despite trying to keep my head down and not doing any sighting whatsoever. I figure that's a skill I will figure out when it becomes impossible to ignore...
I have also been wondering about two other factors in the AC 10k. These are:
1) how much swimming do you actually do if you finish the thing? it's 10 k as the crow flies, right? so with the inevitable meandering that comes from not swimming perfectly straight, do you know how far the average person actually swims?
2) to what extent does the "strong incoming tide" help swimmers? If I get truly exhausted, can I roll on my back and count on the tide to push me, like a "floater" on one of the CSI shows, to the finish line?
Thanks again for the advice. Leonard, I too would like to meet you. I'm the guy whose thinning hair looks a bit like a rabid raccoon's pelt thanks to 97 minute doses of chlorine therapy.
