I'm new (about 4 months) to organized Masters swimming/training, however I have swam in the open water/ocean a fair bit and love it. I have been in the water my entire life and am more comfortable in it than on land. Finding Masters/open water swim events is my niche. I wish I had learned of this years ago.... however I do have an intensive fitness/nutrition/training discipline background and great genetics for swimming that has helped me excel at this sport even in the short time I have been training.
Here's my plans for this summer to dive into Open Water Swimming:
July - 3k Brights Grove swim in Lake Huron (Ontario)
September - 5k St. Mary's Quarry swim (Ontario)
October - St. Croix 5-mile Coral Reef Swim Race (St. Croix, Caribbean)
These swims are all "no wetsuit" so I am planning on wearing the blueseventy pointzero3 swimskin, FINA legal. Does this sound like realistic goals for a first season beginner? Anyone else doing these events?? The St. Croix race looks ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I do wish this race was in winter though - a better time to plan a trip south... (I am all about warm water.)
This is all new to me so I am open to all tips/hints and discussion with other open water swimmers. I am currently training 4X/week, twice with the local Masters team and twice on my own for about a total of 10 000m/week in a 25m SC pool. I am also interested to try competing in pool swim meets with my Masters team next year.
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Thanks guys! Your info is appreciated!
sydned, that is awesome you've done the St. Croix swim 4X. I will see how my 3k and 5k swims go here this summer before throwing myself into the Caribbean off Buck Island. :drown: If I feel I am ready for a 5-mile/8km ocean swim I will make it a long weekend trip. (That is in the heart of hurricane season too...)
How warm was the water?
Did you see any sharks/marine life on the coral reef swim?
What were your times/placings?
What was the toughest/most challenging part?
Thanks for feedback, hope to see you do it again this year!
Thanks guys! Your info is appreciated!
sydned, that is awesome you've done the St. Croix swim 4X. I will see how my 3k and 5k swims go here this summer before throwing myself into the Caribbean off Buck Island. :drown: If I feel I am ready for a 5-mile/8km ocean swim I will make it a long weekend trip. (That is in the heart of hurricane season too...)
How warm was the water?
Did you see any sharks/marine life on the coral reef swim?
What were your times/placings?
What was the toughest/most challenging part?
Thanks for feedback, hope to see you do it again this year!
