Is there a swimming "marathon?"

25K and longer are usually considered marathon swims. In marathon swimming there is no one distance that is “the” marathon. Most countries have designated the 5K, 10K and 25K as open water championship distances. However marathon swims have typically been based on the geography (around the island, across the lake, down the river, etc.) and are usually longer, in some times much longer, than 25K.

Yeah, the running marathon has something very pinpointed and referred to a a a marathon: the 26.2 mile distance (anything over that is an ultra-marathon or "ultra-distance" race). But swims seem to vary with different lengths referred to as "marathons," from what I've noticed. But in training for my five mile swim, I noticed that what I'm doing for that is pretty similar timewise to what I've done in running marathons. Which might or might not mean anything much... but it does mean that for me, five miles feels like a marathon and having trained for this race, I'm in awe of the swimmers who can cover those amazing distances I've read about! :applaud:

Fish What event are you training for? How are you going about it? How long do you think you will be in the water? Do you eat? I am new to this so any info about how you are doing it would be appreciated. I have only done a 1 mile event and my second event is next weekend at 1.75 miles. I am intrigued by the longer events just don't know what it entails training and logistics wise. Best Regards Spudfin Hi Spudfin-- Gotta admit I'm a newcomer to this distance and making a large step up, since my previous longest open water swim Was a mile, so my thoughts are strictly based on what I've experienced so far.... YMMV, as they say. I'll be in a 5.25 mile swim across the Great South Bay from Fire Island to Long Island. Here's the event web site: www.greatsouthbayswim.com The time limit for this event is four hours, which is an average of about 45 mins/mile, and as a slow swimmer, all I want is just to make it in before the cut-off. I feel as if this is doable as my mile pace in my longer swims is from about 42-45 mins. (and even when tired I was holding onto 45 mins.) and I don't push hard, just try to swim steadily, comfortably so I have the energy to keep going. They time it so the tide will push us for at least the first few miles, which will help a lot! And the water temp around this time of year is low seventies. As for training, I gradually added more yards to my longest swim until I did the whole race distance in a pool, plus did some longer intervals as well, from 200 to 800 yard repeats. My one concern (and I'm grateful to have some open water experience from the past to help me) is that I don't live near any good open water sites. So I've just been focusing on pool endurance. But that aside, I've been quite happy w/ my training. Islandsox/Donna has been AMAZINGLY helpful in giving me advice on workouts and mostly I followed what she told me to do. If you're new, as I am, it's always good to get someone whose advice you trust to help you with a schedule, and everyone's needs are a bit different, so the person you consult should have some idea of what kind of swimming you've been doing prior to training for your event As for food, for longer swims, I'll bring gels, but I find I eat fewer of them than I expect to. My stomach just doesn't want to deal with them. I also bring Gatorade Endurance, but find that only a couple sips of that are all I want... mostly it's water, but I try to eat well the day before and then afterward. If I eat too soon before, as I've discovered, that doesn't agree with me. A couple hours before my long swim, a snack of some sort, something that goes down easy, like vanilla yogurt and/or a banana, maybe a gel about a half hour before... (and I notice w/ gels, the less flavor, the better--vanilla or plain... other flavors I keep tasting in my mouth after taking them). More than that isn't comfortable for me, but t'weech her/his own. Someone told me that in salt water swims, it's better to skip the sports drinks and go for plain water, as the salt water already provides plenty of sodium and the sports drinks made him sick. But again, this is very new territory for me. Afterward, I am TOTALLY FAMISHED. But hey, after the 5.25 miler I was totally okay with filling up! :) The forumites who come immediately to mind who really have the experience and who give great advice are, for instance, Islandsox, sdswimmer, Leonard Jansen, and Geochuck, I bow to them! For me, this is a totally new adventure in endurance! I have run marathons before but my open water swim experience is far more limited... guess it'll get a boost next Friday! :) p.s. Good luck in your swim!

Fish What event are you training for? How are you going about it? How long do you think you will be in the water? Do you eat? I am new to this so any info about how you are doing it would be appreciated. I have only done a 1 mile event and my second event is next weekend at 1.75 miles. I am intrigued by the longer events just don't know what it entails training and logistics wise. Best Regards Spudfin

Fish Wow thanks for all the good info. Let me know how your swim goes as I have my sights set on next year already. I am hooked! Regards Spudfin

Fish Wow thanks for all the good info. Let me know how your swim goes as I have my sights set on next year already. I am hooked! Regards Spudfin Thanks Spudfin, that's great! As for letting you know how it goes, ha ha, be careful what you ask for! I'll be so excited, I won't be able to stop letting you know how it goes! :banana: So you're thinking of doing the GSB swim next year? Depending on how it goes for me, I may be pulled back again like iron filings to a magnet. :) Funny, I never thought of myself as a distance swimmer.