I am planning a 9-mile open water swim at the end of the summer, 2003 from Michingan City, Indiana to New Buffalo, Michigan.
I just got back from masters nationals in Tempe and plan on taking about a week off(I'm bushed). I began training for the 400 IM and 500 free this past year. I faired pretty well in my age-group.
I plan on doing a lot of long distance training this summer paired off with some 5-mile swims from a boat to the coast. Does anyone out there have any other good training advice for this kind of swimming adventure?
Thanks
Mark Urban of Illinois Masters
:cool:
Definitely do some open water swims that prepare you for the distance. If there are some 5 or 6 mile swims, do them. Try doing an extra mile or 2 afterwards. If all you have is a 3 mile, try doing a double after a short break. You will need to be prepared to swim for 3 hours and that is very different from shorter swims.
Think about what refreshment you need--I need liquids, usually Gatorade, on a swim of that length. Figure out your break pattern and start trying it--every 45 minutes is probably more than you need but if your goal is to do the swim comfortably, it puts you in a comfort zone.
Check your swim gear. If you are wearing a body suit, test it to find out what chafing you have. In a 9 mile swim, a chafing point that doesn't effect you in a 3 mile can be a gaping wound at the end. This may be less of a problem in freshwater but make sure.
Good luck.
Definitely do some open water swims that prepare you for the distance. If there are some 5 or 6 mile swims, do them. Try doing an extra mile or 2 afterwards. If all you have is a 3 mile, try doing a double after a short break. You will need to be prepared to swim for 3 hours and that is very different from shorter swims.
Think about what refreshment you need--I need liquids, usually Gatorade, on a swim of that length. Figure out your break pattern and start trying it--every 45 minutes is probably more than you need but if your goal is to do the swim comfortably, it puts you in a comfort zone.
Check your swim gear. If you are wearing a body suit, test it to find out what chafing you have. In a 9 mile swim, a chafing point that doesn't effect you in a 3 mile can be a gaping wound at the end. This may be less of a problem in freshwater but make sure.
Good luck.
