One Hour Postal

As far as holding something up every 10 minutes, I would not recommend that as you can lose track visually and mentally of how many times that signal has been put up (and also more confusion and work for counter). I have an old TYR red/black kickboard/pull buoy that I have my counter put up at 30 minutes and 50 minutes. Red side if I'm behind pace (average of last 7 years), black if I'm ahead of pace (not that I can ever really do anything about it). You certainly can break it up into 25s if you want, but then I think you lose the spirit of the swim--a one hour pain fest. I think the counting technique needs to vary by the personal preference of the swimmer. I *NEED* to know where I am in any swim, let alone the hour swim, so it's very important to me to get frequent updates. I might ask for the kickboard every five minutes (but will probably ask for it every 10, plus with 2 minutes to go). Some people can just get in and swim, but if I don't know where I am I will probably panic...

I think the counting technique needs to vary by the personal preference of the swimmer. I *NEED* to know where I am in any swim I have to agree because I absolutely DON'T want to know where I'm at unless it's getting down to the final few minutes. It's just too depressing knowing you're only 20 minutes into the swim or whatever it happens to be. I'm used to looking at the pace clock even in the middle of swims during practice, but when I do the one hour I try not to look.

I have to agree because I absolutely DON'T want to know where I'm at unless it's getting down to the final few minutes. It's just too depressing knowing you're only 20 minutes into the swim or whatever it happens to be. I'm used to looking at the pace clock even in the middle of swims during practice, but when I do the one hour I try not to look. Boy, I'm the exact same way. I hate hate hate to know where I am during the swim before the 45 minute mark.

I guess y'all are right. I never have counters in meets and some do-gooder starts counting unsolicited every @#!# lap for me for an entire mile, making me painfully aware of exactly how far I have left to go. For me, it is nice to have some intermittent feedback, however (so I don't worry that my counter died on me or worse, that the watch stopped and she is afraid to tell me).:D

If I end up doing it, I'm just going to wear my watch to keep track of an approximate time. I don't have to count, so I'll have to be doing something...besides swimming, of course. The times I've done it, I ask for a kickboard to be put in the water (like a lap counter) at each 1000 mark. When I swim, I watch the clock and count lengths pretty closely to keep track of pace, and often it's easy to lose count. -Rick

Good luck tomorrow! Be sure to tell us how you did! Doing my postal swim tomorrow!! 5:00pm I'm getting mental ready. Meals planned, music loaded. I 've been doing distance swims since just before Christmas to get ready. I was able to a pre swim last week in the pool I'm swimming tomorrow. I did an easy 40min swim with 33 mins being non stop. Yesterday I swam an easy 2000. ( 500 wp, then a 5,4,3,2,1 ) I think I'm going to have my counter hold up a blue kb at 3000yds, red at 4000 and purple at the 10 min mark. Friends and family are coming in during my last 15 -10 mins. hopefully I can catch a second wind. During my practice, I was taking breaks and doing a easy 50 back for a break, not sure what I'm doing tomorrow - I guess I'll see how I feel.

Doing my postal swim tomorrow!! 5:00pm I'm getting mental ready. Meals planned, music loaded. I 've been doing distance swims since just before Christmas to get ready. I was able to a pre swim last week in the pool I'm swimming tomorrow. I did an easy 40min swim with 33 mins being non stop. Yesterday I swam an easy 2000. ( 500 wp, then a 5,4,3,2,1 ) I think I'm going to have my counter hold up a blue kb at 3000yds, red at 4000 and purple at the 10 min mark. Friends and family are coming in during my last 15 -10 mins. hopefully I can catch a second wind. During my practice, I was taking breaks and doing a easy 50 back for a break, not sure what I'm doing tomorrow - I guess I'll see how I feel.

I did the One Hour Swim on Sunday. I went to the event - just to count for our friend Jim T. I wasn't planning to swim because I don't like to do much over 500 during practice - I loose focus, loose count, need socialization, get lost, get tired, need to rest, need water, and can find any other excuse to stop. So, the thought of swimming non-stop for one hour, OMG! (back of the had to the forehead & sigh) . . . Therefore, you can imagine how suprised I was to find myself in the second heat, swimming. I swam and swam and swam and swam some more. I really don't know how or why I did it. The water was perfect. I enjoyed not being interrupted, not knowing how far I swam or what time it was. I would do it again. Then I went to the second meet of the day where I finished the 400 IM and 3 other sprint events. My suit: regular practice poly suit. No need to technical stuff! Really, if I can do it, you can too! That's awesome! How did you feel at the meet and how were your times? I'm doing my hour swim this Saturday and going to a meet on Sunday... How worn out were you the next day?

There is a guy on my team that has been out for pretty much the whole year (a new baby at home had eaten up all his free time). He showed up at practice today to do the hour swim and show his team solidarity. Let me reiterate--he hasn't trained in almost a full year. When I left practice he was 45 minutes in and holding his pace very well. I was completely blown away by this. I'm pretty sure if I took the better part of a year off I would NEVER be able to keep going for a full hour. My hat is off to this guy, who is not only a dedicated father and husband, but a heck of a teammate. :notworthy:

Midas! Yesterday I really needed to swim but didn't get a chance. I did about 1 1/2 hours of stretching/light free weights, just to move a little bit. I am not sore at all. I am 37. On another note, when I lived in SF, I'd bike up and down TAM all day long. My dad still rides the headlands every Sunday 50+ miles. I miss that area. Great to hear you weren't sore! So did your swim meet go well? If you're ever back in Marin visiting, you should come work out with us!