For the longest time I have said I will do an open water event after I have properly trained. I have come to realize that I will never be “properly trained” because I never seem to stay in the water. My friend said, “Just bullet sign up – I’m sure you will train then.” So I did, and I have began training, if anything from pure fear of failing. I have to admit it is very exiting and very, very challenging.
The event is the Jim McDonnell Lake Swim in Reston, VA, this May. If anyone has any experience and advice, I openly welcome it. Also, I have a question about a “cable swim” – what is it?
Thanks for the input, Wayner.
Wayner –
First before I go into what a cable swim is, I’m pretty sure the Reston swim is not a cable swim. It was in past years, but starting this year it is going to be a traditional Open Water course.
So if you are still interested, a cable swim is an open water swim where the course is marked by a floating cable stretched between 2 fixed points. Think of a ¼ mile long lane rope attached at each end to a telephone pole sunk into the lake. The swimmers swim up one side of the cable and back along the other. For a 2-mile race the swimmers would swim 4 laps around (8 lengths) the course. Typically cable swim courses are easier to navigate then open water courses, since you are able to see the lane rope, instead of needing to sight off a marker buoy.
Good Luck and have fun. The Reston folks put on a great race!
Wayner –
First before I go into what a cable swim is, I’m pretty sure the Reston swim is not a cable swim. It was in past years, but starting this year it is going to be a traditional Open Water course.
So if you are still interested, a cable swim is an open water swim where the course is marked by a floating cable stretched between 2 fixed points. Think of a ¼ mile long lane rope attached at each end to a telephone pole sunk into the lake. The swimmers swim up one side of the cable and back along the other. For a 2-mile race the swimmers would swim 4 laps around (8 lengths) the course. Typically cable swim courses are easier to navigate then open water courses, since you are able to see the lane rope, instead of needing to sight off a marker buoy.
Good Luck and have fun. The Reston folks put on a great race!
