Recovering from a LONG open water swim

Former Member
Former Member
I just did the USMS 25K race in Indiana last weekend and it has been hard to recover. Just curious on what it is like for others to recover from something like that? How long does it take to feel back to normal again? I was so tired afterwards and bodily functions were messed up for a short bit. I had no desire to eat until later on that evening. Took me till the middle of the next day to come around more, but still am not fully recovered. My training wasn't the greatest some of the time (like when I had my surgery last month), but I hit the recommended amount. My taper however was probably too much, but I had a harder time fitting in time to swim once I hit the mainland. I had a 6-hour time change to get used to and inconsistent sleep nights (some not being enough), but have been able to catch up most days since I got back last Monday. I have hardly been able to swim all week. My arms still hurt a bit, yet they want to be swimming again and so does my mind and body. However, my chest and breathing are another story. I tried swimming 15-20 minutes today and it started to hurt to breathe afterwards, some of it being sharp and it still is bothering me now. After the race, I would cough whenever I would breathe too deep, but that got better the next day. What are the best things to do after a long swim race, especially when feeling these kinds of things? I know everyone is different, but just wondered what it was like for others that have experienced similar or have completed a long race. Hope all is well with everyone.
Parents
  • I did a 14 hour English Channel attempt in 2006. I quit less than 2 miles from the French coast when I could no longer get my arms out of the water. The recovery from that swim was about 3 weeks. I was still very sore and tender almost 4 weeks from the swim. I did an almost 12 hour swim from Catalina to the California Coast and that took almost a week to feel normal again. The time change and the swim will mess almost anyone up, especially a master swimmer. Take your time and let you body recover. Remember you have done something that not many have done or tried.
Reply
  • I did a 14 hour English Channel attempt in 2006. I quit less than 2 miles from the French coast when I could no longer get my arms out of the water. The recovery from that swim was about 3 weeks. I was still very sore and tender almost 4 weeks from the swim. I did an almost 12 hour swim from Catalina to the California Coast and that took almost a week to feel normal again. The time change and the swim will mess almost anyone up, especially a master swimmer. Take your time and let you body recover. Remember you have done something that not many have done or tried.
Children
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