Cross Training for Open Water

I use a jump rope. I like to jump while I jog (jog-jump) as opposed to jumping in one spot, mostly to keep it fun. Also, jog-jumping it easier on my lower legs than the one-spot jump. When traveling, I've found the rope a great way to get in a cardio workout and it's easy to carry.

Jump rope would be great if you were skippng your workout. What ever happened to swimming to train for open water. Are we so short of time that we are not able to get in and swim.

Has anyone tried the "Versa-climber" it uses both legs and arms simultaneously. If your not sure which piece of kit it is, google it. I found when I lived in san diego it was the only piece of cardio equipment in the gyms that didn't have a line in front of it. :-) most are not happy to use it. Another good work out would be with wind resistance rower IE. Concept II, There are some good resistance band swimming workouts on the web give.em a try.

Recently I`ve been cross training by curling 16 oz. cans of beer. Next week I`ll work up to quart bottles. I have heard that using a "bong" increases your lung size. Bong voyage Michael Phelps.

It's probably obvious from my screen name, but for me, grappling has been a great way to work my strength, speed, and cardio. Even after a long layoff in the pool, I find that it's a lot easier to pick back up where I left off compared to other cross training. And during a hard swim practice, I end up thinking, "I was able to choke a dude twice my weight almost unconscious yesterday. I can handle this interval. No problem." You just need to be careful of busting an elbow. That'll ruin your whole season.:badday:

This is a good thread. As far as Eric1 and Geochuck (Hi George!), when a person has swam their entire life, they almost instinctively know how many strokes they are swimming per minute when fresh, tired, pooped, ill. After thousands of miles of swimming, we just "know". One thing that leads to this is a lot of pace work, excuse me, tons of pace work; a "feel" for this comes about. As far as training for open water, that's my answer. Open water swimming, especially in the ocean with lots of current, tides going two ways at the same time (yes, this happens at special times), high winds and 3 foot seas, that is a workout like no other. A half an hour in this kind of situation is like 3 miles in a pool at a minimum. Plus navigation which requires head lift every so often adds to more exercise. My only cross training is weight lifting and stretch cordz. Oh, since I am somewhat overweight, every time I enter my house I have to climb 30 stairs so that's my Stairmaster. But honestly, I find that weight lifting and open water training are more than enough. Roatan to Utila swim (21 miles) still in my plans after surgery in May! Probably the end of 2010 when I do this swim. The current in the first 8 miles is horrific and will try to sweep me towards Belize. I go down to the point here where I will enter the water and just watch those four foot waves running several knots. At least the worst is at the beginning. Donna

Yep, we are way over 80 degrees water temp which is a big hindrance for training for such a long swim. Thus, I swim right before dawn and stop around noon due to dehydration no matter how many fluids I have tied up to a reef. The swim itself won't be that hot because I'll be in 25,000 feet of water, thus, it will be probably only be 79 to 80 degrees for the duration. And then there are always those thermoclines when the currents meet. donna

Donna What is the water temp? Must be over 80,.... I bet it would suck the energy out of most people.