Hi all,
I just joined USMS and have committed to doing my first open water swim (1 mile) in two weeks! I'm way out of practice and have just recently gotten back into it. I've been swimming just about every day, but it takes me nearly an hour to swim a mile at the pool.
Am I in over my head?!??! Should I be this nervous and scared? I've been told I can do it, but I worry that I can't!? Right now, my goal is to finish...? Haha. Is that reasonable?
Any tips from you seasoned (or not!) open water swimmers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you thank you and happy swimming!
How do you OW psychos evaluate your times?
I'm not an OW psycho, but I swim enough OW and don't worry too much about the times (only than to see by how much Kurt Dickson beat me:)). Even in the same race year after year, the times can be all over the board. For example, my last 3 years at the LaJolla Rough Water 1 mile swim:
2006: 20:57
2007: 22:36
2008: 21:00
I was, by far, in my best shape for the 2007 race, but it was my slowest. In 2008, I didn't swim AT ALL for June and July and maybe averaged only 10K a week for the 5 weeks in August/Sep in advance of the mid-Sep race, yet I was 90 seconds faster.
For any ocean swim, currents and placement of buoys have a huge impact on time. Sighting/staying on course is obviously another factor, in addition to having the ability to draft.
How do you OW psychos evaluate your times?
I'm not an OW psycho, but I swim enough OW and don't worry too much about the times (only than to see by how much Kurt Dickson beat me:)). Even in the same race year after year, the times can be all over the board. For example, my last 3 years at the LaJolla Rough Water 1 mile swim:
2006: 20:57
2007: 22:36
2008: 21:00
I was, by far, in my best shape for the 2007 race, but it was my slowest. In 2008, I didn't swim AT ALL for June and July and maybe averaged only 10K a week for the 5 weeks in August/Sep in advance of the mid-Sep race, yet I was 90 seconds faster.
For any ocean swim, currents and placement of buoys have a huge impact on time. Sighting/staying on course is obviously another factor, in addition to having the ability to draft.
