Great Chesapeake Bay Swim 2008

Burger, 700 bay swim entrants prepare 700 different ways. As long as you have a plan (which it sounds like you do), trust it and stick to it. Just because your buddy likes doing straight 4k doesn't mean it will work for you. I for one am not a fan of either your or your buddy's workouts. Way too much freestyle for my liking! I like throwing in strokework, especially when trying to get in shape. A few good IMs go a long way for building up your base. However, I think your decision to break things up is good. Breaking up your workout, using intervals and challenging yourself with various types of sets is going to do a lot more for you and your development than a straight 4k.

Burger, 700 bay swim entrants prepare 700 different ways. As long as you have a plan (which it sounds like you do), trust it and stick to it. Just because your buddy likes doing straight 4k doesn't mean it will work for you. I for one am not a fan of either your or your buddy's workouts. Way too much freestyle for my liking! I like throwing in strokework, especially when trying to get in shape. A few good IMs go a long way for building up your base. However, I think your decision to break things up is good. Breaking up your workout, using intervals and challenging yourself with various types of sets is going to do a lot more for you and your development than a straight 4k. I think that Peg is right. Doing sets that involve all strokes only makes me a better swimmer. That being said, yesterday, I did a timed 1000m and it seemed like a marathon. That spooks me. Somewhere in this prep work, I have to join the triathletes and start very long free sets. Any thoughts again?

I bought the book "Workouts in a Binder - Swim Workouts for Triathlets" I'm going to start using that, and see where it takes me. My sister did a tri last year and gave me an interesting tip (not sure if it is obvious to others but I didn't think of it) - one guy in her group did flip turns just a bit out of reach from the wall so he never touched the wall. It gives more of a realistic feel to not being able to use the wall to pushoff. Just another idea to consider....

As a former distance runner, my 2 pennies on Tri Trianing /Competition strategy are thus: Swim to make the distance Ride to break even Run to kick as and catch the fast swimmers and people with big bucks to spend on hot bikes. It is the fast runner who doesn't sink while swimming that usually comes out in the upper third Just my experience as a former rec triathlete. I'm sure that the elite tri folks have different views - as they should. I know I couldn't stay with them in any segment regardless of their specialty. Lesson from the above diatribe should be that Tri training is not about swimming. That said, I will keep reading and respecting the views of the more experienced endurance swimmers here in this forum. I've added interval training to my weekly sched but have big trouble with IM since I was raised as a runner vs swimmer. I only wish I could: back stroke, fly or even *** stroke without feeling like I'm hurting my old bones and muscles.

Thanks for the input on the neck issue. I'll am trying to roll more and rotate neck less and it seems to help. Not sure of the definition of "catch". I do get sore after the Bay swim and I do look at the bridge constantly. Will try to look forward more this time. I've been concerned about zig-zagging and want to swim as staraight a line as possible.

The GCBS is not sanctioned by usms, so usms rules don't apply. In fact Liz, last year's women's winner used a swimp3 during the race. Your question however, does point to a larger issue. A question I always have is if the open water rules in the usms rulebook are "in addition to" or "instead of" the rules in the main section. Never gotten a straight answer on that one. Regardless of sanction or not...from the USMS rule book (2007): "303.6.6—A wrist watch may be worn in open water competition."

Regardless of sanction or not...from the USMS rule book (2007): "303.6.6—A wrist watch may be worn in open water competition." Chris - Thanks. Exactly the info I was looking for!

Anyone doing the 2 mile Reston Lake swim on May 25th? Not sure if anyone thinks it might be too close to the Bay Swim. I don't plan on tapering until one week before the GCGS but wanted to get other's opinions on particiapting in another race so close to the "big" race.

Lots of people use the Reston swim as practice for the bay. I am only doing the 1 mile at Reston and 1 mile in the Chesapeake. The races are 2 weeks apart. Muppet?

Sounds like a good tune up event. Where can i find the info for entry? I'll do it... www.restonmasters.org It is not my favorite race, but it is well organized and good practice in the beginning of the season.