Any tips for a FIRST time OW swim?

Alison, OW swims are a lot of fun. I don't know why, but a one-mile swim in the pool seems a lot longer than in an OW race; it will be over before you know it. Obviously you won't have any trouble with the distance, having seen you swim I know you're a strong swimmer. In transitioning from pool to OW, some of the biggest issues for strong pool swimmers are: -- the temperature -- sighting/swimming in a straight line -- potential choppiness in the water -- the traffic, especially in the first part of the race You don't have a lot of insulation :) so you should try to acclimate yourself to the temp with some practice swims. Of course, make sure someone is with you. It is still early though, the water is much colder now than it will be for the race. I have never done the Bay swim (I tried to enter this year but didn't make it past the raffle) so I don't know what that specific swim is like...I think you end up swimming beneath a bridge? In many OW swims there is something to swim toward, a marking buoy or something. For sighting, you need to practice lifting your head slightly and looking ahead or otherwise orienting yourself. You might end up doing this a lot during the swim so you want to make sure you don't waste energy by doing it. You can practice this in a pool easily enough: do some longer swims where you lift your head and look straight ahead 1-2 times per length. Do this until it feels pretty comfortable and effortless, just a natural part of the stroke. In OW swims, it is better to swim smart than just bull your way ahead in the wrong direction, or zig-zagging. If you need to stop briefly to orient yourself properly, that will still save time compared to swimming crooked. Things look differently in the water than from the shore. There have been a number of times that I've stood on the shore and thought, "I won't have any trouble navigating this course" only to be proven wrong. That is especially true if there are waves or chop, making it harder to sight on buoys. Get in the water on the course if you can. As far as traffic goes...realize that many people overswim the first part of an OW race, sprinting out ahead -- maybe cutting you off -- only to slow down a lot. Don't get stuck behind someone, or in a group, that swims below your abilities. Good luck! OW swimming is a nice change of pace. Maybe you'll get addicted. THANKS Chris!!! Great advice. I need to work on this sighting stuff. UGH! This is honestly just so foreign to me. I'm so comfortable in a pool. Not sure if I should get a wet suit. Sounds a bit much for a one mile swim. And I realize that the other swimmers are basically going to piss the heck out of me...Should I be on the side......how do I do well in this!!HEHE? IDK about the OW's becoming addictive. My pool and I have a good relationship and have no plans of leaving my pool for another form of water.....(not that kind of woman.hehe)...:shakeshead: THANK you..Hopefully I can get a chance to get in the Chesapeake Bay before the race. Not sure how or where or when though!?????

Alison, OW swims are a lot of fun. I don't know why, but a one-mile swim in the pool seems a lot longer than in an OW race; it will be over before you know it. Obviously you won't have any trouble with the distance, having seen you swim I know you're a strong swimmer. In transitioning from pool to OW, some of the biggest issues for strong pool swimmers are: -- the temperature -- sighting/swimming in a straight line -- potential choppiness in the water -- the traffic, especially in the first part of the race You don't have a lot of insulation :) so you should try to acclimate yourself to the temp with some practice swims. Of course, make sure someone is with you. It is still early though, the water is much colder now than it will be for the race. I have never done the Bay swim (I tried to enter this year but didn't make it past the raffle) so I don't know what that specific swim is like...I think you end up swimming beneath a bridge? In many OW swims there is something to swim toward, a marking buoy or something. For sighting, you need to practice lifting your head slightly and looking ahead or otherwise orienting yourself. You might end up doing this a lot during the swim so you want to make sure you don't waste energy by doing it. You can practice this in a pool easily enough: do some longer swims where you lift your head and look straight ahead 1-2 times per length. Do this until it feels pretty comfortable and effortless, just a natural part of the stroke. In OW swims, it is better to swim smart than just bull your way ahead in the wrong direction, or zig-zagging. If you need to stop briefly to orient yourself properly, that will still save time compared to swimming crooked. Things look differently in the water than from the shore. There have been a number of times that I've stood on the shore and thought, "I won't have any trouble navigating this course" only to be proven wrong. That is especially true if there are waves or chop, making it harder to sight on buoys. Get in the water on the course if you can. As far as traffic goes...realize that many people overswim the first part of an OW race, sprinting out ahead -- maybe cutting you off -- only to slow down a lot. Don't get stuck behind someone, or in a group, that swims below your abilities. Good luck! OW swimming is a nice change of pace. Maybe you'll get addicted. THANKS Chris!!! Great advice. I need to work on this sighting stuff. UGH! This is honestly just so foreign to me. I'm so comfortable in a pool. Not sure if I should get a wet suit. Sounds a bit much for a one mile swim. And I realize that the other swimmers are basically going to piss the heck out of me...Should I be on the side......how do I do well in this!!HEHE? IDK about the OW's becoming addictive. My pool and I have a good relationship and have no plans of leaving my pool for another form of water.....(not that kind of woman.hehe)...:shakeshead: THANK you..Hopefully I can get a chance to get in the Chesapeake Bay before the race. Not sure how or where or when though!?????