I am trying to plan for the 5k open water swim this September in Chicago.
In need of good workouts to kick start the training process.
Does anyone have any tips?
Thanks in advance..!
Former Member
The last 3rd of the course is by the seawall, and you can put your feet down and take a rest, walk home.
I always felt a little guilty walking along the seawall. But once I got there, I knew I was 2/3 done. And it is great to touch the bottom and walk just a little. ;)
JIM
Unless you specifically want to do the 5k Championship swim, twice around the course, 2.5k is a perfectly fine option and more than enough distance to get really bored.
I'll play devil's advocate here and say the 2.5K is the cop out distance :) Really, any competent swimmer can make the 5K distance with the appropriate training. Think how many people runs marathons every year, after all. Heck, that takes many people four hours or more. Swimming continuously for 1.5 hours or so isn't that big of a deal. As you pointed out, if you aren't in it to win you can take it easy. If you get too tired roll over onto your back and swim some double-armed backstroke for a couple minutes.
I'll play devil's advocate here and say the 2.5K is the cop out distance :) Really, any competent swimmer can make the 5K distance with the appropriate training. Think how many people runs marathons every year, after all. Heck, that takes many people four hours or more. Swimming continuously for 1.5 hours or so isn't that big of a deal. As you pointed out, if you aren't in it to win you can take it easy. If you get too tired roll over onto your back and swim some double-armed backstroke for a couple minutes.
Well I can't be seen as a cop out...Its go hard or go home. I just need to learn to train distance :afraid:
I was always a mid d swimmmer in college, now that Im a grown up I decided I would be a drop dead sprinter and I love it...But im pretty sure if im outside swimming I can do a lot more distance. :dunno:
From what I hear there are a lot of people that swim out there, I just need a good training group to work with. :wiggle:
I've done several OWS now, and this one is my favorite.
I was a sprinter in high school and hated swimming anything longer than a 200 in work out. If this is you, it is a good idea to at least do the 5K distance once in a pool before doing it in a lake. It gets you over the mental hurdle. The actual swim will then be a piece of cake.
As for training in open water, I don't ever get to do so. I only train in pools and do just fine. My first OWS I looked up too much, and then not enough as I ran into a bank. It takes some getting used to.
