So Ron had you done any open water swimming before last year. I am starting to get nervous here. I haven't done any open water swimming before. Fitness wise I know I can hang but all the other factors I don't know. I plan to go swim tomorrow (Mon) in Aquatic park, but feel I didn't do enough to prepare. I'm not looking to win but, I don't wanna drown. Just pre-swim jitters, sorry to vent.
"So Ron had you done any open water swimming before last year."
Yes,..the Oceanside Pier Swim,..it is held every Labor Day for the past 77 years,..I have done it 4 times,...came in 245 out of 260 the first time I swam it, I was just happy to have made the 1 mile swim. My nick name is Pokey,...I`m slow.
" I am starting to get nervous here. I haven't done any open water swimming before.
Fitness wise I know I can hang but all the other factors I don't know. I plan to go swim tomorrow (Mon) in Aquatic park, but feel I didn't do enough to prepare. I'm not looking to win but, I don't wanna drown. Just pre-swim jitters, sorry to vent."
Everyone who has ever swam Alcatraz has experienced what you are experiencing,...just wait till you get on the ferry,...talk about nervous! Once you hit the water, the anxiety will melt,..once you hear the tremendous war-cry from all the swimmers as the starting horn sounds, you will have an experience of a life time,..I kid you not! Have fun,...spear the water with each stroke,..visualize your hand striking the sand in Aquatic Park. It is truely an emotional experience. You can tell all your friends that you did what had been considered impossible. I`m flying up Thursday morning and will be in the water at Aquatic PArk Thursday evening,..I believe that there is a group that regularly swims there Thursday evenings. Look for me,...long-sleeved white rash guard top and blue knee length speedo`s .
I wear the white rash guard for visibility reasons. Thruout the winter I have swam in the Pacific @ La Jolla Cove,..my wife sits on a bench on the small bluff above the cove and can clearly see me as I swim out the 1/2 mile bouy.
Saturday, I`ll be using a Garmin 305 GPS to track my swim. Life is grand!
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You will do fine. Don't worry. Just go in and do your best.
When I did it 2 years ago, I was very nervous too. Once you get in the water you will be fine. It was a pretty easy swim compared to other races I have done. It may have been an easy year, because the water was pretty calm.
Relax and just keep swimming!
:cheerleader:
Swimmy
:cheerleader:
You will be fine. I swam it in 2005 and 2006. Had a great experience both times. I agree with Ron, once you hit the water you will have no worries.
On the ferry ride find a veteran or two and talk to them. They will be happy to give tips.
Enjoy it!
When I made this I was 25 now I'm 26. I went swimming in Aquatic Park yesterday to try out the wetsuit and feel the water. Man is that water cold. Alittle seal kept pooping his head up every 100 yards ahead off me. I think with everyone around and the adrenaline I think it will be fine. I have a lot of people around me trying to pysche me out, I don't know why, maybe they're jealous. Alliswim have you done this race before?
That sounds awesome. I've actually never been to San Francisco. Since most east coasters don't know much about Alcatraz, they keep saying to me, "Aren't there sharks?" and "I thought no one ever successfully completed that swim." I think it's going to be great fun. I did an ocean swim last weekend and the current was so strong my open water mile was 14 minutes slower than it should have been. Having practice in that type of current was great prep for Alcatraz.
And yeah, with 800 other people I don't think we have much to worry about. I'm a little concerned about sighting, but I've had a lot of OW practice this season -- I guess my strategy is that it's better to be safe than sorry and sight more than you think you should so that you don't get too off-course.
You might want to try to swim with this group on Thursday evening: www.waterworldswim.com/.../default.asp
I signed up for it and it sounds like they'll teach you about current, help you acclimate, etc...I don't know about anyone else but I do much better with a group.
Great advice, ya'll! HILARIOUS about eating plums before the swim...I think I'll be fine with my usual coffee, bagel, peanut butter, and banana finished 2 hours before the swim. :)
The race sounds like so much fun. Swim25 (are you 25? I am), you're going to fall in love with open water swimming. I did my first OW race in a lake two years ago, and I like it more and more every time I do it, and as I try more and more challenging races (I've since done a swim in the Atlantic ocean and across the Chesapeake Bay).
Ron -- is the Garmin 305 waterproof? This the Forerunner?
When I made this I was 25 now I'm 26. I went swimming in Aquatic Park yesterday to try out the wetsuit and feel the water. Man is that water cold. Alittle seal kept pooping his head up every 100 yards ahead off me. I think with everyone around and the adrenaline I think it will be fine. I have a lot of people around me trying to pysche me out, I don't know why, maybe they're jealous. Alliswim have you done this race before?
I would have loved to try to swim with that group on Thursday but I have to work that night. In regards to sighting I kept my head up a little to be able to see what was going on around me and I seemed able to see pretty well.
People who find out that I'm doing the swim say the same thing to me. "Watch out for the sharks around you." Yes there are sharks in the area but they are way out by the Farallon Islands, about 50 miles of the coast. There is no reason for them to come into the bay. Not to mention all the sewage dumped in the bay and the recent oil spill that happened by the bay bridge, there is nothing advantageous for the sharks to come into the bay. I have done a lot of research on sharks in the past. So in response there are no sharks in the bay. Of course it is still in my mind. We should try to meet up, I'll be in a ZOOT wetsuit, not that helps any.
Great advice, ya'll! HILARIOUS about eating plums before the swim...I think I'll be fine with my usual coffee, bagel, peanut butter, and banana finished 2 hours before the swim. :)
The race sounds like so much fun. Swim25 (are you 25? I am), you're going to fall in love with open water swimming. I did my first OW race in a lake two years ago, and I like it more and more every time I do it, and as I try more and more challenging races (I've since done a swim in the Atlantic ocean and across the Chesapeake Bay).
Ron -- is the Garmin 305 waterproof? This the Forerunner?
Also, I'm swimming with Water World Swim at 6pm on Thursday in Aquatic Park. I've emailed them, and they are VERY friendly and helpful -- answered all my questions about Alcatraz. They run a practice at AP 3 times per week, which I think will be a huge help to someone who's never done this before!
www.waterworldswim.com
