Hi folk,
First off, anyone here familiar with the Great South Bay Swim?
Obviously, this year would be out even if the entries weren't closed, since my swimming distance lately is pretty modest. I swim about 3-4 days/week, but not far (1000-2000 yards or if feeling ambitious and have time, up to maybe 2200-2300).
I've done one mile open water swims in bays and oceans, not fast (38ish mins. was fastest). This swim is 5.25 miles, so I suspect it would be a reach to be able to swim this next year... but out of the question? Or would it be better to plan for two years? I also run regularly--about five days/week, including two interval workouts, long run of abt. 2.5 hrs--so I'm generally fit, if not speedy.
So, first question: do you recommend making this a two years from now goal or do you think next year is doable? Second, can you suggest some good training plans?
Note: although I'm currently swimming on my own, I expect to return to the masters' group I swam with during the winter/spring. (They change their location/time in the summer...doesn't fit my schedule). As for type of workout, I'm more or less winging it, depending on how much time I have to swim on any given day. The USMS site has yielded some helpful workouts, and my coach also e-mailed me a bunch of practices of different distances, but I suspect I'll need a more organized month-by-month plan to get from here to a 5.25 mile swim next year or the year after.
Parents
Former Member
FindingMyInnerFish,
Wow, you're a marathon runner too. I can't imagine ever going that distance, though I would like eventually to work up to an 8K and maybe a 10K. How long have you been running?
It's encouraging to know that the first 5K is the hardest. Before and during, I wondered why I was doing this, but afterwards it felt so good! (I feel like that on training jogs too, hard to get going, but it's great when it's over. Maybe it's the endorphin release...)
Are you doing the 1 or 2 mile for the September Splash? I'm thinking of entering that one, or else the Rainbow Challenge, though both of them are a fairly long drive and I don't know if I can get away from home. Hope I can do one of them; they both look like really nice swims.
I want to do the Lake Montclair swim (which is closer to home) but can't decide on what distance. They have a 1 and 2 mile swim. The time limit on the 1 mile is 60 minutes, which I know I can do, and 90 minutes on the 2 mile, which would be a bit of a stretch. (My 39 minute ocean swim was with a favorable current, although the water was cooold and the sea was rather choppy). I haven't done any lake swimming since I was a kid at summer camp, so don't know if ocean or lake is more difficult (am I a dumb newbie or what). Don't care how I place, but I really do want to finish, which makes me think the 1 mile might be better, but then again, chancing a DNF with the 2 mile would be a better preparation for the Bay Swim, so I'm tempted to go for it.
Any advice on which distance I should try? Anyone?
FindingMyInnerFish,
Wow, you're a marathon runner too. I can't imagine ever going that distance, though I would like eventually to work up to an 8K and maybe a 10K. How long have you been running?
It's encouraging to know that the first 5K is the hardest. Before and during, I wondered why I was doing this, but afterwards it felt so good! (I feel like that on training jogs too, hard to get going, but it's great when it's over. Maybe it's the endorphin release...)
Are you doing the 1 or 2 mile for the September Splash? I'm thinking of entering that one, or else the Rainbow Challenge, though both of them are a fairly long drive and I don't know if I can get away from home. Hope I can do one of them; they both look like really nice swims.
I want to do the Lake Montclair swim (which is closer to home) but can't decide on what distance. They have a 1 and 2 mile swim. The time limit on the 1 mile is 60 minutes, which I know I can do, and 90 minutes on the 2 mile, which would be a bit of a stretch. (My 39 minute ocean swim was with a favorable current, although the water was cooold and the sea was rather choppy). I haven't done any lake swimming since I was a kid at summer camp, so don't know if ocean or lake is more difficult (am I a dumb newbie or what). Don't care how I place, but I really do want to finish, which makes me think the 1 mile might be better, but then again, chancing a DNF with the 2 mile would be a better preparation for the Bay Swim, so I'm tempted to go for it.
Any advice on which distance I should try? Anyone?
