In Search of Open Water event....

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:30:39 GMT

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:06:19 GMT

I don't have an Alcatraz shirt to wear!!! :doh: (sounds like my wake-up call to swim it next year). I guess I'll just have to wear one of my old Big Shoulders shirts. And my Fastskin. See ya'all there! JIM :cheerleader: The Alcatraz shirt is the "in" shirt to wear.....All the cool kids have them..... :cheerleader:

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

fatboy — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:57:36 GMT

I'll be there doing the 2.5K - in about the same time as Jim. Good Luck Swimmy and Jim. Maybe I'll wear my Alcatraz shirt too!

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:20:11 GMT

Swimmy, After a summer of warming up (it was 90 here today), the lake temp is lower 70's or upper 60's. I've swum for many years and I've never had a problem with temp. There might be early, early morning showers on Saturday, but I'm sure it will be clear and calm by the time we start. On a related note, the psych sheets are up right now at Big Shoulders! See ya there! JIM

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:01:38 GMT

Yeah, I already checked them out. I will be there in an Alcatraz shirt. Have a great swim. Swimmy :cheerleader:

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 07:45:57 GMT

Jim, What do you think the water temp will be? I am planning to go without my wetsuit. 60's? 70's? I have a pretty high tolerance for cold water.... Swimmy :cheerleader:

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:49:06 GMT

Anyone else doing Big Shoulders? I would love to meet more Forum friends! Lunch anyone? Swimmy :cheerleader: This will be my third year at Big Shoulders and I hope to break the hour mark this year! (just for the 2.5) So far, weather looks good, maybe a little on the cool side. But calm conditions and sunny skies! :applaud: I have to to go soon after I finish for another lunch event, but meeting before is always cool! JIM

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Muppet — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 08:25:52 GMT

I would also recommend the Coral Reef Swim in St Croix, US Virgin Islands. This is a beautiful swim! The extra treat this year will be the 4 Olympians that will be in the water with us - Misty Hyman, Amanda Beard, Margaret Hoelzer, and Rowdy Gaines. Hope to see you there! Hmm, will Amanda be wearing a bathing suit? I think I might just have to go now!

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:52:39 GMT

papadave, Join Swimmy and I at BIG SHOULDERS in Chicago on Sept. 8th. THey offer a 2.5K amd a 5K swim and the event is very well organized. Anyone else doing Big Shoulders? I would love to meet more Forum friends! Lunch anyone? Swimmy :cheerleader:

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:45:38 GMT

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:05:53 GMT

papadave, Join Swimmy and I at BIG SHOULDERS in Chicago on Sept. 8th. THey offer a 2.5K amd a 5K swim and the event is very well organized.

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:44:33 GMT

The Little Red Lighthouse Swim on Saturday, August 25. It's 5.85 miles (with a nice current pushing you along).

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:10:05 GMT

Hopefully this year they'll check on the bathrooms. Will you be there this year???? I will be doing Big Shoulders that day. Maybe next year I will do Montclair again. Swimmy :)

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:38:41 GMT

There's a charity swim for Multiple Sclerosis in the Hudson at Croton, NY on September 16th. 1,2 and 3 milers are offered. I'll be doing the 3 mile course. eventnyv.nationalmssociety.org/.../TR Rich

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

sydned — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:05:41 GMT

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

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Julie Roddin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:21:13 GMT

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????

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:01:33 GMT

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.

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Julie Roddin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:56:38 GMT

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

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Swimmy — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:43:27 GMT

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 :)

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:26:40 GMT

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

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Julie Roddin — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:22:43 GMT

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

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Former Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 15:37:00 GMT

papadave I am doing this one next Saturday for the first time. All the open water folks highly recommend it. www.sandpoint.org/.../ Regards Spudfin

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

Rob Copeland — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 12:33:04 GMT

There are a number of well organized swims along the New Jersey coast. Get in touch with the NJ Masters folks for details.

RE: In Search of Open Water event....

FindingMyInnerFish — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 03:38:47 GMT

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. ;)