https://community.usms.org/swimming/f/open-water-training-and-technique/24150/training-advice-neededI 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&#39;m bushed). I began training for the 400en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/thread/260646?ContentTypeID=1Thu, 22 May 2003 13:21:34 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:5375e7d0-6cff-44d0-a9ef-56eac540d0e9Former MemberSounds fun! Of course, there are a million ways to train, but here is one: Try swims of 1-3 hours where you swim for about 30 min at a stretch at a strong, steady pace and then take 30-ish secs to get some Accelerade (or your favorite drink). Throw in 2 or 3 harder efforts of 5 minutes in each segment, but don&#39;t stop at any point except for your drink breaks. This is a good pool workout, because it lets you cover the distance without going completely insane from endless laps without variety. Of course, you should work up to whatever effort/distance you attempt to cover - don&#39;t just jump in and do 3 hours the first day. -LBJ<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/260671?ContentTypeID=1Thu, 22 May 2003 11:33:06 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:87a9cdd2-bbe5-4700-8b7e-b91b7e0434c3beirelandDefinitely 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&#39;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.<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/260677?ContentTypeID=1Thu, 22 May 2003 07:30:46 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:98e88059-92f4-47ab-960b-3af69b53555cFormer MemberThanks a bunch for your advice. I&#39;ll be hooking up with my friend who swam the English Channel so I&#39;m sure he will have some advice, but he can get a little quiet and non-informative at times, but maybe that is because we have been swimming indoors all winter. Once we hit the open water who knows what will happen. I won&#39;t be wearing a suit as far as I know. When I swam in Ireland last summer, the water was 57 degrees. I warmed up rather quickly with two caps and my speedos. As long as the sun shines all summer in Chicago, the water should be about 75 or so. I&quot;ve already started doing small swims practicing feeding or drinking; it sure was a pain the first few times, but I now drink from a big-mouthed container to swig down, but not too much or I get bloated and gassy...yikes. Thanks again...MU of IM<div style="clear:both;"></div>