Hey all,
The Big Day is coming... August 3... for my swim across the Great South Bay (www.greatsouthbayswim.com).
Today I swam the full race distance, 5.25 miles in a POOL with kids splashing around on both sides and once getting into my lane, but nothing like learning to focus, ha!
I know I should probably get in some open water practice, but I don't live near open water, hence the pool swim.
Donna's been excellent with lots of tips, schedule thoughts and suggestions, so I've made much more progress than I ever thought I would!
Now the question is what about a taper... what to focus on, what kind of yards, things like that. Last two weeks, except for weekend swims, the yardage was low per swim (maybe 2000-2500) but my focus was on trying to hold my form while pushing a bit more. I noticed that it paid off today as my "tired" mile times are what my "fresh" times used to be. (Not fast, I should point out, but less slow than before!)
I do both swimming and running, and I wonder about your thoughts on that as well. My bf wants to do a five mile run a week before my swim, and I figure that would be too soon before the swim for me to be in such a run, I am considering signing up and just jogging it. But I wonder if even that might be too much that soon before the swim. (Anyone who runs/swims who can speak to that?) Alternatively, I'd just go with him to cheer for him and do a shorter run along the trail near the race--really a nice setting, so I enjoy going with him, even if not to race.
My arms and shoulders are muttering darkly at me now, but if the pattern of my long swims holds out for this one, they should feel pretty good in a day or two. I seem to have a lot quicker recoveries from long swims than from long runs. What I may not have is as much time during the week as on weekends, but I can work things in if ppl feel they are vital.
So there you are... and if anyone thinks of suggestions in areas not covered by this post, please feel free to share them.
I'm excited about this swim, and a little scared too, but I figure both the excited and the scared feelings are part of the process and mean I'm a real live person. :)
In any event, thanks all for your help/suggestions/ and hey, cheers are cool too! :D
I have some thoughts on a mini-taper for you so I will email you. I wouldn't worry so much about any antibiotics for this swim. Now if you were doing the Nile, I'd say run to your doctor for all kinds of injections (LOL). Unless you have a cut on your body which could cause a staph infection, I'd put all my energies into swimming the race of my life. So far, so good for you; keep doing what you are doing. We'll email!
Great, thanks much! I'll be on the lookout! Kind of went light the last couple days... just a matter of being able to get to the pool during the hours available as much as recovering fr/ my swim, but I am glad I went light b/c I could feel some clicks/tightness in my left upper arm yesterday (1200), better today, though (1600 yards)... did some 200s and was pretty happy w/ my pace today--easy to maintain a pace that used to be hard. Nice! But of course too short!
Ran tonight w/ my group, and we did a hill workout. I felt great and lots of energy, was in the lead a couple times in my ("less fast") group (as our coach tactfully says) and easily could have kept on going.
I have some thoughts on a mini-taper for you so I will email you. I wouldn't worry so much about any antibiotics for this swim. Now if you were doing the Nile, I'd say run to your doctor for all kinds of injections (LOL). Unless you have a cut on your body which could cause a staph infection, I'd put all my energies into swimming the race of my life. So far, so good for you; keep doing what you are doing. We'll email!
Great, thanks much! I'll be on the lookout! Kind of went light the last couple days... just a matter of being able to get to the pool during the hours available as much as recovering fr/ my swim, but I am glad I went light b/c I could feel some clicks/tightness in my left upper arm yesterday (1200), better today, though (1600 yards)... did some 200s and was pretty happy w/ my pace today--easy to maintain a pace that used to be hard. Nice! But of course too short!
Ran tonight w/ my group, and we did a hill workout. I felt great and lots of energy, was in the lead a couple times in my ("less fast") group (as our coach tactfully says) and easily could have kept on going.
