Hi all,
First off, my 100 free is such that Michael Phelps could do a 200 and towel off before I finshed my 100. And good on him!
But I am planning to swim this event in my local Senior Games meet next week--and just want to break 2 mins. Yes, I can swim long--but not fast. That sub-2 time has been an elusive goal (granted I put more time into running last year than swimming, so got somewhat sidetracked... a running injury, however, has served to refocus my attention on swimming).
Fortunately, my 100 times have started to improve, so that in recent workouts, I have them down to 2:01-2:02. My thought is that with a dive start, I can drop a couple seconds.
My masters' coach said maybe I might even consider aiming for 1:50. But I've been known to over-reach at the start and blow up in the last 25, so I want to be careful about this.
I'll see how I feel on race day, of course, but I welcome any tips you might have.
Again, admittedly, this is modest. Discreet laughter permitted along with tips. ;)
FIsh (Again)
Can I ask what your 5 mile time was? I considered myself too slow to swim that distance, but I guess not. I love endurance stuff, but have to figure out how to swim 4 hours without having my shoulders fall off.
You DEFINITELY could do it, Eric! I wasn't sure at first if I should attempt a swim like that, since I hadn't a lot of ow experience and not a lot of speed--but it took place near an old family vacation spot so had that appeal--a kind of homecoming.
For the distance of 5.25 miles, my time really pleasantly surprised me: 3:25:12!
I finished second to last, but that was of no importance to me. I just wanted to make the 4-hour cut-off. I thought it would be close based on doing the same distance in the pool in training and going over four hours at that point. But my thought was "swim until I finish or until they stop me."
As it turned out, there was a tide assist for the first half of the swim, and I was able to make some time due to that. However, the assist was off-set somewhat by the chop in the last couple miles. I was pretty green at the gills by the time I finished--but also flying high just having done it!
Didn't wear a wetsuit either... haven't ever worn one for any ow swim I've done. Anyway, it would have been too warm, I think b/c the water temp was in the seventies and it was a pretty hot day.
Should mention, it was the Great South Bay Swim, and the web site is greatsouthbayswim.com. Haven't checked the site in several days so not sure if it's been filled for this year, but it's an annual event and very, very well organized! I might go to volunteer--don't have the distance training to do it this time around but definitely want to do it again!
FIsh (Again)
Can I ask what your 5 mile time was? I considered myself too slow to swim that distance, but I guess not. I love endurance stuff, but have to figure out how to swim 4 hours without having my shoulders fall off.
You DEFINITELY could do it, Eric! I wasn't sure at first if I should attempt a swim like that, since I hadn't a lot of ow experience and not a lot of speed--but it took place near an old family vacation spot so had that appeal--a kind of homecoming.
For the distance of 5.25 miles, my time really pleasantly surprised me: 3:25:12!
I finished second to last, but that was of no importance to me. I just wanted to make the 4-hour cut-off. I thought it would be close based on doing the same distance in the pool in training and going over four hours at that point. But my thought was "swim until I finish or until they stop me."
As it turned out, there was a tide assist for the first half of the swim, and I was able to make some time due to that. However, the assist was off-set somewhat by the chop in the last couple miles. I was pretty green at the gills by the time I finished--but also flying high just having done it!
Didn't wear a wetsuit either... haven't ever worn one for any ow swim I've done. Anyway, it would have been too warm, I think b/c the water temp was in the seventies and it was a pretty hot day.
Should mention, it was the Great South Bay Swim, and the web site is greatsouthbayswim.com. Haven't checked the site in several days so not sure if it's been filled for this year, but it's an annual event and very, very well organized! I might go to volunteer--don't have the distance training to do it this time around but definitely want to do it again!
