I swam the Great Chesapeake Bay 4.4 mile swim last month in Maryland. I swam the Save the Bay 1.7 mile swim in Newport, Rhode Island last weekend. Both were excellent open water events and I would highly recommend both events to all open water swimmers.
Now, I am looking for another open water event to put on my calendar for later this year or next year. Distance should be between 1.5 miles and less than 6 miles. I live in Winchester, Virginia but am willing to jump on a plane to almost anywhere in the United States if the swim is well organized and recommend by other open water swimmers. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much for your input....
www.greatsouthbayswim.com: 5.25 mile event on 8/3. Entries are closed for this year, but you might want to look into it for next year.
Rainbow Channel Challenge, 8/4: This has three swims and a kayak race: for adults, a 1 and a 2.6 mile swim and a 2.6 mile kayak race; for kids, a 1/4 mile swim. I've done the mile swim and people I know have done the 2.6... This is a fun event, and they have all kinds of raffles afterward. Instead of a t-shirt, you get a nice quality beach towel--all good... I have lots of t-shirts. Can't make it this year, though, since it's the day I head home after the above-mentioned swim.
September Splash, Wildwood Crest, NJ. Sat. 9/22. There's no link yet to this year's swim on the lmsports.com site, but at least they show the right date. They have 2, 1, and 1/4 mile swims (the shortest one is for kids). It's a well-run event, from my experience. I'm hoping to get to this one. Leaning toward the mile only b/c I might not have gotten completely un-waterlogged by then. ;)
I swam the Great Chesapeake Bay 4.4 mile swim last month in Maryland. I swam the Save the Bay 1.7 mile swim in Newport, Rhode Island last weekend. Both were excellent open water events and I would highly recommend both events to all open water swimmers.
Now, I am looking for another open water event to put on my calendar for later this year or next year. Distance should be between 1.5 miles and less than 6 miles. I live in Winchester, Virginia but am willing to jump on a plane to almost anywhere in the United States if the swim is well organized and recommend by other open water swimmers. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much for your input....
Hi! I did the Bay Swim this year also :)
One of my favorite open water races here in VA is the Lake Montclair swim. They have a 1 & 2 mile swim and it's pretty low key though so if you're looking for a large race with lots of hype, this isn't that race. It's on September 8th and the entry form is here: www.pvmasters.org/entry.htm
Hope to see you there!
Julie
Dave,
There aren't many better places to be than the coast of Maine in August. Check out the 3.2 mile Rockland Breakwater swim at: www.swimnem.org/.../Breakwater_Race_Entry_Form.pdf
I did the swim last year (first time ever held) and will do it again this year. Bring your long sleeve wetsuit, it's chilly.
For 2008, I highly recommend the Peaks to Portland swim. I have competed in over 20 different races around the U.S. (including Chesapeake and Narragansett), and this is by far the best course in terms of pure open water experiences. It can be choppy, foggy, cold, the currents can be strong, you have to dodge lobster buoys, the start is wonderfully chaotic, and the scene at the finish is fun. http:/.../events.htm
See you in Maine.
Hopper
http://www.swimvacation.com
Hi! I did the Bay Swim this year also :)
One of my favorite open water races here in VA is the Lake Montclair swim. They have a 1 & 2 mile swim and it's pretty low key though so if you're looking for a large race with lots of hype, this isn't that race. It's on September 8th and the entry form is here: www.pvmasters.org/entry.htm
Hope to see you there!
Julie
Julie,
That is one of your favorites? Come on....
There are no bathrooms or even port a potties and no place to change clothes. The course is nice, but not one of my favorites by far....
Swimmy :)
Julie,
That is one of your favorites? Come on....
There are no bathrooms or even port a potties and no place to change clothes. The course is nice, but not one of my favorites by far....
Swimmy :)
Favorites in VA where I can sleep in my own bed the night before. It is SO much better than the Reston swims. I like Reston for convenience, but the lake can be gross. Montclair is a nice small race. I signed up for the 1 and 2 mile swims this year so I'll likely be dizzy after going around that loop 6 times!
Last year was the first year they had taken the port a johns away before the race. There are two there during the summer and it sounds like that caught them off guard.
It's no Bay Swim, but a nice race in my opinion.
Julie
Favorites in VA where I can sleep in my own bed the night before. It is SO much better than the Reston swims. I like Reston for convenience, but the lake can be gross. Montclair is a nice small race. I signed up for the 1 and 2 mile swims this year so I'll likely be dizzy after going around that loop 6 times!
Last year was the first year they had taken the port a johns away before the race. There are two there during the summer and it sounds like that caught them off guard.
It's no Bay Swim, but a nice race in my opinion.
Julie
It is a cute little lake, but don't drink too much Gatorade! We usually stop at the Starbucks to use the bathroom before the race. It would be a nice race if the facilities were better. The organizers should make sure there are port a johns. People were not happy last year.
It is a cute little lake, but don't drink too much Gatorade! We usually stop at the Starbucks to use the bathroom before the race. It would be a nice race if the facilities were better. The organizers should make sure there are port a johns. People were not happy last year.
Hopefully this year they'll check on the bathrooms. Will you be there this year????
Okay, if you are willing to jump on a plane, I have to recommend St. Croix. End of October, a beautiful swim in warm water, with great folks organizing and swimming. The route is from Buck Island, an underwater national monument, and takes you along the coast of St. Croix back to a resort called The Buccanneer, where most swimmers stay.
I've done it three times, and am going back again this year. It's the swim I look forward to all year. It's become a great family event for us, and not that expensive. We've done all of our flights we frequent flyer miles, and there are special rates at the Buccanneer.
The website is swimrace.com
Take care!
Sydne
