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
Leonard, and InnerFish, many thanks for the info!
The Rainbow Challenge does look like it would be the most fun, and I'd like to try the 2.6 mile distance, but... I'm veeeery sloooow and if the swim begins at 10:15 and awards are at noon, at my current pace I might not be able to finish. Do you know if there is there a set amount of time to complete the course, after which slowpokes get pulled out of the water? I wouldn't mind finishing well after everyone else and not getting an official time, as long as I could finish.
If there's a time cutoff, I'll go with the September Splash instead of the one mile Rainbow Challenge. I'm pretty confident that I can do two miles in under 90 minutes (and that one would give me another month to train and hopefully get a little faster). It wouldn't be pretty, but I don't care as long as I finish.
How cold is the water in late Sept.? And are wetsuits allowed? I've never worn one, but if the water's cold, maybe I'll try it (I'm 5'3 and 112 pounds - if I'm not mistaken that's rather low body fat for open water swims, but could I go up 5 pounds or so if that would help reduce the risk of hypothermia - would it?). I know wetsuits are a controversial topic here, and I'd rather not shell out the $$$ for one, but I want to maximise my chances of finishing.
The Lake Montclair swim is a 2 and a half hour drive, and I'm having doubts about doing that drive, swimming, and then turning around and driving home. (My 1 mile ocean swim was only 45 minutes away). Here's another dumb question (I'm asking a lot of these) do you usually stay at a hotel the night before a swim, or drive there and back? How long does the drive have to be for you to decide to stay overnight?
So if I can do only one of the three, maybe the Sept. Splash will be it, at least for this year, since I really want to get in a two mile event (that I have a good chance of finishing) before the season ends. If I get to meet you both there, that would be terrific!
Sandra
Leonard, and InnerFish, many thanks for the info!
The Rainbow Challenge does look like it would be the most fun, and I'd like to try the 2.6 mile distance, but... I'm veeeery sloooow and if the swim begins at 10:15 and awards are at noon, at my current pace I might not be able to finish. Do you know if there is there a set amount of time to complete the course, after which slowpokes get pulled out of the water? I wouldn't mind finishing well after everyone else and not getting an official time, as long as I could finish.
If there's a time cutoff, I'll go with the September Splash instead of the one mile Rainbow Challenge. I'm pretty confident that I can do two miles in under 90 minutes (and that one would give me another month to train and hopefully get a little faster). It wouldn't be pretty, but I don't care as long as I finish.
How cold is the water in late Sept.? And are wetsuits allowed? I've never worn one, but if the water's cold, maybe I'll try it (I'm 5'3 and 112 pounds - if I'm not mistaken that's rather low body fat for open water swims, but could I go up 5 pounds or so if that would help reduce the risk of hypothermia - would it?). I know wetsuits are a controversial topic here, and I'd rather not shell out the $$$ for one, but I want to maximise my chances of finishing.
The Lake Montclair swim is a 2 and a half hour drive, and I'm having doubts about doing that drive, swimming, and then turning around and driving home. (My 1 mile ocean swim was only 45 minutes away). Here's another dumb question (I'm asking a lot of these) do you usually stay at a hotel the night before a swim, or drive there and back? How long does the drive have to be for you to decide to stay overnight?
So if I can do only one of the three, maybe the Sept. Splash will be it, at least for this year, since I really want to get in a two mile event (that I have a good chance of finishing) before the season ends. If I get to meet you both there, that would be terrific!
Sandra
