I will be turning 50 this year, and in celebration of this I would like to start doing open water swims. Never done any real swimming except in a pool and was wondering how to get started. Do you just pick an event and show up and hope for the best in such a foreign environment or are there ways to train or are there any clinics to attend specializing in open water. I am in Northern California but would love an excuse to travel some place for a clinic. Thanks. Paul
Paul, I got started by picking an event, showing up and hoping for the best. In the meantime, I just kept up my training, focusing a bit more on distance than shorter stuff. Raceday came, I swam and loved it!
I chose a 1miler to get me started, and I'd recommend something 1-2 mi for you. With something of that distance, training is easy - my view is that as long as you're in the water on a regular basis, you should be able to do a 1mi w/o many issues. Plus, its an easy, short way to get acquainted with the OW concept. Training-wise, it helps to do LCM work.
Just made my 3rd 4.4mi Chesaeake Bay crossing - its addictive just to warn you!
Paul, I got started by picking an event, showing up and hoping for the best. In the meantime, I just kept up my training, focusing a bit more on distance than shorter stuff. Raceday came, I swam and loved it!
I chose a 1miler to get me started, and I'd recommend something 1-2 mi for you. With something of that distance, training is easy - my view is that as long as you're in the water on a regular basis, you should be able to do a 1mi w/o many issues. Plus, its an easy, short way to get acquainted with the OW concept. Training-wise, it helps to do LCM work.
Just made my 3rd 4.4mi Chesaeake Bay crossing - its addictive just to warn you!
