Hi all,
Wanted to run my training plan by you guys and see if you think this is possible.
Entering the 12 mile "Dam" Swim Sept. 23. River swim in Alabama. Water temp and conditions not an issue. It's USMS sanctioned.
Been a swimmer since age 6 and am now 33. Swam USMS since 2002. Am considered a strong swimmer (placed in top 10 nationally as high up as multiple 2nd and 3rd place in all strokes and events.) Done some open water 5K swims and enjoyed them and placed in top 1 to 2 of women.
This summer, focused on triathlons (sprint and olympic distance) and there was little focus on swimming. Have been training 2 to 2.5 hrs/ day 5 to 6 days a week among the three sports.
I've got 2 months to train. Was thinking of swimming 6x/ week for 1.5 to 3 hrs per session at moderate pace (usually, I train at a very high intensity but my races are short - like 400 yds and less). I will be cutting out all the tri training to train for this race. Goal is to finish. If I DNF, I'll not be thrilled, but I'll be more disappointed if I don't even try the race. I'm someone who will wake up one day and say, "I've got to do this - whether it be compete and win a tri/ swim a 400 IM/ try a 12 mile swim, whatever. . ." And I always get up and at least try it.
Do you feel this is a good plan and reasonable to try?
Also, was planning on hydrating 6 to 8 oz of sports drink every 30 minutes during the 5.5 to 6 hr swim along w/ eathing some gu packets every hour or so. I've not done a swim this long. Should be very interesting to see if I can hack it. Just want to be safe though and stay hydrated and nourished. Will have own personal motorized escort.
Thanks!! I've loved lurking here for the past several years.
Parents
Former Member
Thank you all very, very much for the fantastic advice and tips. My coach also thinks that 30 to 35K is enough. He sort of cringes when I say doubles. Rob, to your point, I noticed when I trained for triathlons that the longer workouts helped me more than the doubles (I feel because there is no 6 hour rest break during the race!)
I feel better about what I'm currently doing. I'm a bit nervous b/c of the distance and because I'm used to training 5K to 6K 6 days a week for a 500 free race! (I swam my 500 in 5:23 in Feb 2006.)
It's good to know I don't need to be doing 15K a day - at least to just finish.
I'm irritable anyway - but all the other tips on overtraining were great. I will monitor very closely how I feel and possibly stick to 35K a week.
Up until April, I would training 5 to 6 days a week about 5 to 6,500 yards a session. I felt good. Then I switched to triathlons and only did about 1 to 2K twice a week from mid april to a couple of weeks ago. So Randy, just to clarify my swimming base, I have a swimming base but it's a bit rusty with my switching to triathlon and focusing on the bike and run (like doing 40 mile bikes followed by 6 K runs - nothing too crazy). No more tri training until after this swim though. I want to focus on having a good swim.
After tri training I love swimming even more - it's much more rewarding in my opinion. I remember swimming every summer morning at 6 am as an age grouper and loving the zen like feeling. I'm trying to recapture that feeling - and it's working!
In reading other posts Leonard, I did go to Dover Solo and already enjoyed doing 2x2000 at about a 1:20 pace. It took some laps to get into it, but then I really relaxed and kept going and it felt great (this was my second practice of the day - but I will most likely cut that out and increase the 1 practice as Rob suggested.)
I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes. I'm certinaly a bit worked up about the swim but I'm very excited about it and happy to just enter it!
You guys were awesome! I feel much better!
Thank you again!
Kristina
Thank you all very, very much for the fantastic advice and tips. My coach also thinks that 30 to 35K is enough. He sort of cringes when I say doubles. Rob, to your point, I noticed when I trained for triathlons that the longer workouts helped me more than the doubles (I feel because there is no 6 hour rest break during the race!)
I feel better about what I'm currently doing. I'm a bit nervous b/c of the distance and because I'm used to training 5K to 6K 6 days a week for a 500 free race! (I swam my 500 in 5:23 in Feb 2006.)
It's good to know I don't need to be doing 15K a day - at least to just finish.
I'm irritable anyway - but all the other tips on overtraining were great. I will monitor very closely how I feel and possibly stick to 35K a week.
Up until April, I would training 5 to 6 days a week about 5 to 6,500 yards a session. I felt good. Then I switched to triathlons and only did about 1 to 2K twice a week from mid april to a couple of weeks ago. So Randy, just to clarify my swimming base, I have a swimming base but it's a bit rusty with my switching to triathlon and focusing on the bike and run (like doing 40 mile bikes followed by 6 K runs - nothing too crazy). No more tri training until after this swim though. I want to focus on having a good swim.
After tri training I love swimming even more - it's much more rewarding in my opinion. I remember swimming every summer morning at 6 am as an age grouper and loving the zen like feeling. I'm trying to recapture that feeling - and it's working!
In reading other posts Leonard, I did go to Dover Solo and already enjoyed doing 2x2000 at about a 1:20 pace. It took some laps to get into it, but then I really relaxed and kept going and it felt great (this was my second practice of the day - but I will most likely cut that out and increase the 1 practice as Rob suggested.)
I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes. I'm certinaly a bit worked up about the swim but I'm very excited about it and happy to just enter it!
You guys were awesome! I feel much better!
Thank you again!
Kristina
