Around Key West

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:43:36 GMT

the FKCC sanctioned one, case closed Randy nailed it! The FKCC swim is sanctioned, permitted, and insured. I would avoid the swim on the 26th. If you can't swim the FKCC event this year on the 12th, I would wait until next year.

RE: Around Key West

orca1946 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:32:26 GMT

I may have to try distance again. My 1st masters event was a 4 mile swim in Fox lake ,Il back in 1987 !

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:31:32 GMT

Get ready for a new challenge or old one for those that have done it...FKCC swim around Key West. This event will be held June 12, 2010. The difference between the two races is the FKCC one is sanctioned and has EMT's, safety boats and lifeguards stationed throughout the course. The website is www.fkccswimaroundkeywest.com. Hope to see you there. I will be there! Looking to bring a great relay team. Do they keep "record times" for each type of relay (2-person, 3-person, etc)? If so, are the times posted someone? I know conditions are never exactly the same year to year but I'd like to have a time to shoot for!

RE: Around Key West

info@randynutt.com — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:35:40 GMT

the FKCC sanctioned one, case closed

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:21:41 GMT

Gary Hall Sr. - thanks for bringing your team down. Hope to see you and your team here in 2010--the tides won't be a probably at all. Lori

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:16:48 GMT

RE: Around Key West

sydned — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:15:18 GMT

Okay, I am still confused. Do people have any opinions about the two Key West swims? The end of June works better for me, but people seem to be leaning toward the one earlier. Opinions? Thanks!

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:05:49 GMT

I swam Key West this year on a 6 person relay with some good friends. It was really fun....though the water was a bit warm...and on cow channel they mistimed the tide, so it made for a tough mile and a half. I commend Lori on putting on a great event and really congratulate those who swim all 14 miles. Definitely get an experienced paddler if you go the distance and bring lots of fluids for the heat. Jellyfish are not a problem that early in the year (at least not this year). If you do plan on going, take an extra day and attend a Race Club camp in Islamorada (90 miles north/east). Whether you are an open water swimmer or competitive swimmer, I will help you with your stroke technique and make you faster. Gary Hall Sr. The Race Club

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:39:48 GMT

No-to the local kayaker idea-let your husband guide you-a good kayaker can make a difference-the locals aren't used to directing the swimmer or giving the feedings. get a 2-man and put your son in it too. My paddler was a local and the owner of Lazy Dog. He knew every inch of the water around KW and we worked out the feedings between us along the way. He'd led swimmers round before. Unfortunately I don't think he's there any longer. I don't know if I'd feel confident putting a kid in a kayak. It's a long time in some pretty extreme heat.

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:25:47 GMT

Most likely my family, brother's family, and or parents will probably come down if I do indeed swim this (which is highly likely right now). So I'm sure their will be a social beforehand and folks get to meet and hang out. I'm sure spectators and family will be in a general area. If that is the case I'm sure your son could hang out with our family? My hope is that we make a big family vacation out of it and one of my buddies that I'll relay with brings his powerboat (19'-20' center counsel fishing boat). I'll also be bringing my 14' Kayak. By mid April I should have a more firm commitment on the plan.

RE: Around Key West

sydned — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:53:29 GMT

I love the theory of putting my son on the kayak--the reality of my husband have to do both parenting and taking care of me sounds miserable for him. I think the boy will have more fun hanging out on the beach with his grandmother... And I'm neurotic about the son so I want to make sure he's taken care of. Thanks for the advice. I agree with sticking with a kayaker who knows me, and my patterns, and has a vested interest in keeping me alive... Which race did you do? I'm still trying to determine which is better.

RE: Around Key West

cathym — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:39:00 GMT

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:42 GMT

Well, I'm a bald head (at least mostly, I usually shave it to keep it that way). I'm gonna have to think this one through cause I can't afford to have my head get that fried. Maybe I'll ask for a sponsorship from "Zinka" and paint my whole body up with their colored zinc product! Hmm...painted on swim cap?! http://zinka.com/

RE: Around Key West

sydned — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:16:21 GMT

Again, still wondering what folks think in terms of the two different races. We'd have to bring the whole family down, since my son can't really hang out on the beach by himself for 7 hours while my husband kayaks. Another question, actually. Do those who've done the race think it's better to have a local kayaker who has done the course? My husband always kayaks for me and is both a terrific navigator (with a sailing background), and knows my swimming and patterns really well. That being said, he doesn't know Key West. Opinions?

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:38:47 GMT

Lump I'm not sure about the sweat thing. I guess since I had a tank suit on I didn't need as much zinc coverage as guys would. They didn't require a cap at all when I swam it. I wore one for most of the race then took it off for the last 2 miles when I got too hot. My scalp got really burned and peeled :))

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:15:50 GMT

Amanda, How much does the zinc inhibit your ability to sweat? Also, do they require you to wear a swim cap? I HATE caps, never wore one as swimmer from age 14 on (when I focused on distance) and they tend to make a already HOT swim HOTTER.

RE: Around Key West

Killer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:34:59 GMT

Anybody have an estimate as how much a kayaker would cost? I need to work out my budget, if you know what I mean. Does anyone advocate shaving down for the event for cooling purposes?

RE: Around Key West

sydned — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:17:06 GMT

I got the best swim caps ever in Korea. I wish I could get them in the States. They are amazing, and like Japan, everyone--even bald people--wear them in the water. I hope mine holds out until Key West...

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:13:42 GMT

I HATE caps, never wore one as swimmer from age 14 on (when I focused on distance) and they tend to make a already HOT swim HOTTER. in japan, every swimmer is required to wear a cap in public pools (even bald people) they have snug fitting mesh caps that are quite comfortable when the water is warm.

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:04:23 GMT

What's the difference between the race being held on the 12th of June, and the one being held on the 26th? Which one have people done?? The one on the 26th works better for me in terms of my son's school schedule, but I can't get their website to work in terms of registration info, and that always raises a red flag... I did the FKCC one. Very well organised. Very laid back. Randy Nutt's a good person to ask about it. I saw 4 nurse sharks. 3 were small and one was quite a bit bigger than me! My kayaker was from Lazy Dog kayaks. Fabulous!!! he was smart enough to pack his drinks in ice and saved my butt towards the end of the swim when I was getting really distressed from the heat. Am really hoping to do that swim again one day. The Zinc!!! You can never have enough. I'm not too fair and got fried even with it on. Everyone did....

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:55:42 GMT

I am planning on doing it too. Does anyone know where I can get mass quantities of Zinc Oxide? I am Irish, we burn easily! My wife might be the kayak assist, she will need to practice too. Is it easy to rent a kayak? Last question, are there sharks there? Not that I am scared, I was taught by Nuns! If you read the site for the event there are lots of great tips in there and links for lodging, kayaks, etc. That being said I read that you can order cans of zinc oxide from your pharmasist and kayaks are pretty cheap, $30 or so. Any sharks are likely to be Nurse sharks that are more bottom dwellers and very docile.

RE: Around Key West

sydned — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:41:46 GMT

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:50:04 GMT

I swam around Key West in 2009 solo and intend to do it again in 2010. The water will be warm, 88 degrees, and the shallow parts are very shallow, I scraped my chest on a coral branch! Zink oxide should be made without fish oil, an most places make it with fish oil. If you look for a pharmacy that hand blends prescriptions, they can make zink oxide for you in almost any quantity. I used Head Hunter sunscreen at: www.headhuntersurf.com/indexF.php, used by lots of open water leaders. Getting a kayak through the meet director is your best bet, it is the way I got mine for the race. The kayak club is great.

RE: Around Key West

Killer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:21:28 GMT

RE: Around Key West

Former Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:24:59 GMT

Sydned. I did it in 2008. Didn't get any jellyfish or sealice at all. Was pretty sunburnt even with a coating of zinc though