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
InnerFish,
Wow, your first open water mile sounds so much like mine! I've never been on a swim team or done any masters swimming or any training with any group, for that matter. The Jack King swim was my first race of any kind (so it's not surprising I finished last). I really need to train more systematically. There's a group at the Y that meets at 5:45am, but I'm not much of a morning person, and it doesn't fit my schedule right now, though that will change, at least for a while, by the end of Aug. I'll have to check them out. Other than basic swimming lessons as a kid, I've never had any coaching, so obviously I have a lot to learn.
Every summer as a kid at the beach with my family, I always wanted to swim out way too far. Once when I swam parallel to shore and we measured the distance with the car and it was two miles. That and the one mile last month is the extent of my open water experience. So I know absolutely nothing, too. It's great that everyone here has been so patient with my dumb questions.
I wish I could make it to all of the swims on the east coast (that is, the ones I have a chance of finishing), but like you, time and $$ and family will inevitably get in the way. Oh well, for the ones I can't make this year, there is always next year, and then I'll get an earlier start. This year I did the Jack King as sort of on impulse, but now I want to do more and more and try new distances and challenges. I don't care where I finish or if my time is veeery sloooow, I'm just gonna enter and enjoy myself and set the goal of going the distance.
The Sept. Splash start sounds like the Jack King start. You have to swim out past the buoy and start from there, then round the buoy at the end and swim to shore and run to the finish line on the beach. The water felt really cold while treading water waiting for the start, but once I got going it didn't bother me that much. And even before that I got in the water and swam a little to try to get somewhat acclimated to the cold.
I'm glad your running injury healed. Maybe someday I'll work up to the 8K distance. After I strained my shoulder, for about two weeks I didn't swim at all but ran (actually jogged) a 5K six days a week, and that reverse cross training seemed to work. There's a Run Swim Run next week (I think) in VA Beach, a 1K beach run, 1K ocean swim, 5K boardwalk run. I don't think I'm ready for it as doing just the 5K was a challenge, but maybe next year.
And maybe next year for the Great South Bay Swim, if I can get ready for it by then, get a kayaker (no idea how to go about doing that), and get it all organized. I went to their website and it looks like a great swim. Another goal: if I don't get in the Chesapeake Bay Swim, then I'll do the Swim for Life (either 3, 4, or 5 miles, I'll decide when the time comes). Always something else to look forward to...
Sandra
InnerFish,
Wow, your first open water mile sounds so much like mine! I've never been on a swim team or done any masters swimming or any training with any group, for that matter. The Jack King swim was my first race of any kind (so it's not surprising I finished last). I really need to train more systematically. There's a group at the Y that meets at 5:45am, but I'm not much of a morning person, and it doesn't fit my schedule right now, though that will change, at least for a while, by the end of Aug. I'll have to check them out. Other than basic swimming lessons as a kid, I've never had any coaching, so obviously I have a lot to learn.
Every summer as a kid at the beach with my family, I always wanted to swim out way too far. Once when I swam parallel to shore and we measured the distance with the car and it was two miles. That and the one mile last month is the extent of my open water experience. So I know absolutely nothing, too. It's great that everyone here has been so patient with my dumb questions.
I wish I could make it to all of the swims on the east coast (that is, the ones I have a chance of finishing), but like you, time and $$ and family will inevitably get in the way. Oh well, for the ones I can't make this year, there is always next year, and then I'll get an earlier start. This year I did the Jack King as sort of on impulse, but now I want to do more and more and try new distances and challenges. I don't care where I finish or if my time is veeery sloooow, I'm just gonna enter and enjoy myself and set the goal of going the distance.
The Sept. Splash start sounds like the Jack King start. You have to swim out past the buoy and start from there, then round the buoy at the end and swim to shore and run to the finish line on the beach. The water felt really cold while treading water waiting for the start, but once I got going it didn't bother me that much. And even before that I got in the water and swam a little to try to get somewhat acclimated to the cold.
I'm glad your running injury healed. Maybe someday I'll work up to the 8K distance. After I strained my shoulder, for about two weeks I didn't swim at all but ran (actually jogged) a 5K six days a week, and that reverse cross training seemed to work. There's a Run Swim Run next week (I think) in VA Beach, a 1K beach run, 1K ocean swim, 5K boardwalk run. I don't think I'm ready for it as doing just the 5K was a challenge, but maybe next year.
And maybe next year for the Great South Bay Swim, if I can get ready for it by then, get a kayaker (no idea how to go about doing that), and get it all organized. I went to their website and it looks like a great swim. Another goal: if I don't get in the Chesapeake Bay Swim, then I'll do the Swim for Life (either 3, 4, or 5 miles, I'll decide when the time comes). Always something else to look forward to...
Sandra
