While a lot of folks will disagree, I’d suggest you go about this like you would any other race and warm-up at least 500 before the swim. Then get out get hydrated and get ready to swim. For me, if I don’t warm up (even for marathon swims) I can’t easily transitions from warm-up pace to race pace.
Also, in addition to paying attention to how the body feels I would also watch the clock. With a goal of 5000 (1:12’s) it’s pretty easy to see if you are holding 6:00 500’s and if you are slipping a bit off the pace and feeling good, then pick it up a bit. If you are slipping off and swimming poorly, then readjust the goal. My best hour swim was when I had a pace clock next to me and I could calculate where I was for the entire swim.
While a lot of folks will disagree, I’d suggest you go about this like you would any other race and warm-up at least 500 before the swim. Then get out get hydrated and get ready to swim. For me, if I don’t warm up (even for marathon swims) I can’t easily transitions from warm-up pace to race pace.
Also, in addition to paying attention to how the body feels I would also watch the clock. With a goal of 5000 (1:12’s) it’s pretty easy to see if you are holding 6:00 500’s and if you are slipping a bit off the pace and feeling good, then pick it up a bit. If you are slipping off and swimming poorly, then readjust the goal. My best hour swim was when I had a pace clock next to me and I could calculate where I was for the entire swim.
