I have a goal of being able to do a 7 to 8 mile open water swim.
What kind of training program will get me there? What type of workouts leading up to the attempt? Should I do the full distance at least once prior so I know I can do it, or if I do 5 miles comfortably, then I know I can do the 7?
I was going to try it this year, but I don't think I am ready, so I will attempt it one year from now.
Also, what type of nutrients and fluids should I have my escort bring?
One final question, what is the optimum water temperature for this attempt? I will be using a wetsuit. Is there any precautions regarding jelly fish?
Any one with long distances have experiences to share?
Thanks for the suggestions. I will start incorporating one hour pool swims (about 2 miles) into my training. Perhaps one a week. Then perhaps a half dozen times this summer I will do an outdoor two hour swim. At the end of the summer, I will do an outdoor four hour swim. There is also a 5K open water swim (no wetsuit) which will be a good test. I will do these distance workouts in addition to my usual interval stuff in the pool.
Hopefully next year I will be ready!
What about nutrients during the swim? water/Carbs/sugar/caffene? Any good premade nutrients for endurance events?
I guess I have done more long distance swims than anyone else here.
When getting ready I would swim 1 hr 2 hrs never more than 3 hrs at a time. Sometimes 1 hr and a 2 hr swim, or 2 x 2 hr swims in a day. I have even entered a 28 mile race without being in the water for 9 mons. With a wet suit it woud be easy. Ideal temp over 65 degrees under 70 degrees. In all the races I have been in only ran into Jelly fish once and after hundreds of stings during that race I was seeing things that were not there.
I have being in different open water events and to get ready for them I always swam the distance at least ones on the pool before doing it at the event, I event did more than the full distance in a single workout prior to the event.
To get ready I think you should star doing X500´s and x1000´s, also swimming distance for an hour, and then the next weekend for two hours and again the other weekend.
I also remember different coaches telling us to swim x 50's face up as a drill.
The more effective precaution against jelly fish would be your escort and your wet suit.
:cool:
Old school - glucose powder mixed with watered down orange juice, I also took caffeine powders and calcium cassinate. Used desalted Campbells chicken noodle soup in the really long swims. In a 30 hr swim in Montreal (it was a two man team race) swim a third of a mile then the other swimmer swam a third of a mile, (my partner was Billy Barton) when I was out I ate a Peppi's Pizza.
Here is a workout that I used once a week in a pool 3800 meters I think I posted it before.
Swim down hill - 900, 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100; rest from 20s to 1 min between each swim. Go faster as your swims get shorter. Over time, decrease swim times and rest periods.
No, not a race, just want to swim from Long Island to Connecticut. It is about 7 to 8 miles. I want to do it just to say I did it. It is something I think about every time I look across. I am new to swimming so it is a big deal for me.
I timed myself for 500 yards today and came in about 9 min. That was swimming harder than I would if I was doing distance. I swim a mile comfortably in about 30 minutes. I think that is putting me at at least 4 hours to cross. If I hit a wall figure on maybe 6 hours.
I will have to time my departure to split the tide.
If you make that your training race pace it works out to 1:48 per 100, so If it were me I would do 30 x 100 on 2 min to start. Before you know it you will reduce your race pace.
