OK I got in. The most I have swam is 2 miles open water. I swim about 10K yards a week with 2 masters workouts a week. Now what. This race is 4.4 miles.
The race date is June 8. I think I can answer my own question... double (or triple!) my weekly yardage, hold yourself back on the start, finally, grit your teeth and "enjoy" gutting it out.
Ideas for training?:confused:
Parents
Former Member
It is a privilege for us to be able to swim the 4.4 miles across the Bay – not a right. FYI: It takes a Federal Act to close the Bay Channel for us to swim across it. ALL boat traffic is stopped. It is the ONLY day of the year this happens. In the past, Homeland Security attended the event… not to provide security, rather to observe how this event is actually run. It is one of the rare moments when federal, state and local organizations all work together and get something positive done.
As far as the numbers go… The US Coast Guard limits the number of people in the water to 600. (I believe that number has been increased to 650.) And, the organizers are savvy enough to know that they can have up to 700+ entered due to the predictable % of no shows. It allows the max number of people to actually participate on race day.
In the past, there was no cap. The Coast Guard found the safety of the swimmers was jeopardized because of it. At any moment, the swim can be cancelled if the Coast Guard says so – for any reason. So, organizers go out of their way to pay close attention to the rules levied so that this swim can happen for us.
Regarding safety… Get to know the history of the event. In 1991 and 1992, only 20-25% of the starters made it across (I’m testing my memory regarding the exact numbers). Currents swept a majority of people off course. In fact, one poor soul was found 1 mile down stream before he was picked up.
The Bay Swim is no little swim around a lake. It is one of the most challenging open water races out there. This is what makes it so special and so popular.
Since when have open water races supposed to be all inclusive??
It is a privilege for us to be able to swim the 4.4 miles across the Bay – not a right. FYI: It takes a Federal Act to close the Bay Channel for us to swim across it. ALL boat traffic is stopped. It is the ONLY day of the year this happens. In the past, Homeland Security attended the event… not to provide security, rather to observe how this event is actually run. It is one of the rare moments when federal, state and local organizations all work together and get something positive done.
As far as the numbers go… The US Coast Guard limits the number of people in the water to 600. (I believe that number has been increased to 650.) And, the organizers are savvy enough to know that they can have up to 700+ entered due to the predictable % of no shows. It allows the max number of people to actually participate on race day.
In the past, there was no cap. The Coast Guard found the safety of the swimmers was jeopardized because of it. At any moment, the swim can be cancelled if the Coast Guard says so – for any reason. So, organizers go out of their way to pay close attention to the rules levied so that this swim can happen for us.
Regarding safety… Get to know the history of the event. In 1991 and 1992, only 20-25% of the starters made it across (I’m testing my memory regarding the exact numbers). Currents swept a majority of people off course. In fact, one poor soul was found 1 mile down stream before he was picked up.
The Bay Swim is no little swim around a lake. It is one of the most challenging open water races out there. This is what makes it so special and so popular.
Since when have open water races supposed to be all inclusive??
