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
Parents
Former Member
Good luck on your swim! You have really trained for this and will do fine. I don't have anything to add to what others have already posted about tapering - seems to be sort of an individual thing.
On using antibiotics, I'd hesitate about that, because the one that's usually used (Cipro) can be fairly hard on the liver, so it's not good for endurance athletes, and I've read that widespread use of antibiotics is contributing to the epidemic of really nasty, drug-resistant bugs. I use Emergen-C immune defense powder in my water - it has vitamin C, zinc, and other supplements.
A runner friend who knows a lot about natural health and healing suggests eating a clove of raw garlic a day. She cuts it into pieces and swallows them like pills, so as not to drive everyone away. She hasn't been sick in years, so maybe this really does work!
On doing the five mile run, I think either taking the run at a slower than usual pace or doing a shorter run would be fine (it would also give your arms and shoulders a break). I also run (slowly), and just started last year, so I'm hardly an expert! I did the Run Swim Run at Virginia Beach yesterday - it's a 1K beach run, 1K ocean swim, and 5K run on the boardwalk. Didn't place but it was a great day. I think the runners were afraid to swim out too far - the water was rough (I actually like it that way) and I came out ahead of runners who passed me on the boardwalk as if I were standing still. Have you done any combined events like that?
I also looked at the MIMS website - maybe next lifetime for me... or maybe That Dam Swim or the race around Key West next year...
Good luck on your swim! You have really trained for this and will do fine. I don't have anything to add to what others have already posted about tapering - seems to be sort of an individual thing.
On using antibiotics, I'd hesitate about that, because the one that's usually used (Cipro) can be fairly hard on the liver, so it's not good for endurance athletes, and I've read that widespread use of antibiotics is contributing to the epidemic of really nasty, drug-resistant bugs. I use Emergen-C immune defense powder in my water - it has vitamin C, zinc, and other supplements.
A runner friend who knows a lot about natural health and healing suggests eating a clove of raw garlic a day. She cuts it into pieces and swallows them like pills, so as not to drive everyone away. She hasn't been sick in years, so maybe this really does work!
On doing the five mile run, I think either taking the run at a slower than usual pace or doing a shorter run would be fine (it would also give your arms and shoulders a break). I also run (slowly), and just started last year, so I'm hardly an expert! I did the Run Swim Run at Virginia Beach yesterday - it's a 1K beach run, 1K ocean swim, and 5K run on the boardwalk. Didn't place but it was a great day. I think the runners were afraid to swim out too far - the water was rough (I actually like it that way) and I came out ahead of runners who passed me on the boardwalk as if I were standing still. Have you done any combined events like that?
I also looked at the MIMS website - maybe next lifetime for me... or maybe That Dam Swim or the race around Key West next year...
