What has been your experience with open water swimming events *outside* the US? I'd like to hear it all; good, bad, and ugly, to gain perspective on these events. Some questions I have are:
Where was the event held?
What were the political conditions like in the host country?
What were the economic conditions like in the host country?
Was the event well-run
Was the event safe
Did you feel you got a good return on your investment of time and money?
Would you do this event again?
What are the best memories of this event?
What were the water conditions like?
What extras did the organizer provide that added value to the event?
What were the distances of the swims?
Was getting to and from the event a hassle?
How easy/difficult was it to get to the host country?
I'd like to hear what you all have experienced on this front. Granted, it may not be a long thread but it should be informative at least.
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I did the "Vibes and Scribes" Lee river swim in Cork this July and would thoroughly recommend it!
Getting to Cork was very easy and inexpensive, as I was staying in London over summer. I would still love to travel to Ireland to do that swim again, even from Chicago (where I am now). It's a long way to go for a short swim, but I think there are a lot of cheapish fares from Chicago to Ireland. Also, it's a good excuse to go somewhere fun!
The race was 2km. About 3/4 was downstream, and the rest upstream (after turning-the Lee river splits around the town of Cork). The current was fairly gentle though, so it wasn't much of a push at all finishing off.
Race organisation was excellent. Check-in was at the finish point, from where swimmers walked an easy distance to the start. The warm sunny day helped! Swimmers were sent off in waves from a wooden platform to the sound of a pipe band.
The water was cold! It was in the low 50's, BUT the finish line was manned by the Cork Fire Department (sweet). They not only helped everyone out of the water, but provided hot showers!! Really, there was a kind of inflatable shower room with hot water and shampoo!!
We stayed at the Imperial hotel which was beautiful! very close to the start and finish points.
The race started in the afternoon, so you could sleep in, wander around, eat, swim, then continue straight on to happy hour! And of cours kiss the Blarney Stone
www.corkmasters.ie/.../leeswim.htm
I did the "Vibes and Scribes" Lee river swim in Cork this July and would thoroughly recommend it!
Getting to Cork was very easy and inexpensive, as I was staying in London over summer. I would still love to travel to Ireland to do that swim again, even from Chicago (where I am now). It's a long way to go for a short swim, but I think there are a lot of cheapish fares from Chicago to Ireland. Also, it's a good excuse to go somewhere fun!
The race was 2km. About 3/4 was downstream, and the rest upstream (after turning-the Lee river splits around the town of Cork). The current was fairly gentle though, so it wasn't much of a push at all finishing off.
Race organisation was excellent. Check-in was at the finish point, from where swimmers walked an easy distance to the start. The warm sunny day helped! Swimmers were sent off in waves from a wooden platform to the sound of a pipe band.
The water was cold! It was in the low 50's, BUT the finish line was manned by the Cork Fire Department (sweet). They not only helped everyone out of the water, but provided hot showers!! Really, there was a kind of inflatable shower room with hot water and shampoo!!
We stayed at the Imperial hotel which was beautiful! very close to the start and finish points.
The race started in the afternoon, so you could sleep in, wander around, eat, swim, then continue straight on to happy hour! And of cours kiss the Blarney Stone
www.corkmasters.ie/.../leeswim.htm
