Does anybody have any experience/advice on training to swim this beast?
I'm 23 years old, swam competitively from ~6 to 18, and since then have been lightly going to the gym a few times a week. At my peak, I was averaging about 7km a day, but have no experience with open water swimming.
Ideally, I'd like to try it around August 2008... I currently live in NYC and my brother, who lives in New Haven, is also training for this event. I've checked out the Channel Swimming Association website, but would really appreciate any advice you have to offer.
I think the first step would be finding a trainer . . . ?
Please let me know!
Gabriel
Parents
Former Member
The channel swim requires that you be ready to take on tides, waves and water temperature. You have to be ready for a swim what could take as long as 12 hours or even more. I did many a race over 12 hours but never trained for 12 hours. All of my distance training was done by doing paced swimming from 1, 2, or 3 hr swims and sometimes twice a day. I did my long swim training in races one every weekend all summer. A great dutch swimmer said never train over 9 hrs but that was not for me.
I have never done the English channel but have done tougher swims. My brother did the channel twice in races but did not do a solo swim.
The channel swim requires that you be ready to take on tides, waves and water temperature. You have to be ready for a swim what could take as long as 12 hours or even more. I did many a race over 12 hours but never trained for 12 hours. All of my distance training was done by doing paced swimming from 1, 2, or 3 hr swims and sometimes twice a day. I did my long swim training in races one every weekend all summer. A great dutch swimmer said never train over 9 hrs but that was not for me.
I have never done the English channel but have done tougher swims. My brother did the channel twice in races but did not do a solo swim.
