Those who have done the Boston Light swim

Hi all, Don't worry, I'm not asking if it's too late to try it this year. (It is, except for people doing the relay.) I'm a tad crazy but not that crazy! :) Even next year is unlikely because based on what I've read, I think it would be wiser to get more comfortable with longer distance swims--and so next year, I'm thinking of doing the Great South Bay Swim for the second time (5+ miles), plus maybe some 2-4 mile swims, so distance in open water isn't a novelty but something I'm accustomed to. The Boston Light Swim looks very intriguing historically and as a swimming challenge. It's definitely too much swim for me just now but I am wondering if it's something that I can reasonably hope to work my way up to. My only ambtion in this as it was in the Great South Bay swim is to beat the cut-off time. I did the 5.25 mile distance in 3:25, but I'd want to improve my speed/strength since the BLL from what I understand has some tricky currents and a person needs to be ready for them. The GSB swim had a tide assist to start off--and some pretty intense chop in the last couple miles. I thus learned that I can keep swimming while seasick. It's a useful thing to know. ;) Of course, I might also want to get a better idea of how to prevent seasickness.... So, first off what kind of experience did you have before you began training for the BL swim and how did you prepare for it? And do you think it would be realistic for me to consider doing it in, say, two years?
Parents
  • JDY and Leonard, Thanks for your comments/feedback--and congrats on such great places! I know I'm hearing from experts! When I did the 5.25 mile swim, I did the distance in training--in a pool. Do you recommend that in training for BLL? I'm thinking more the swim distance, that is, not necessarily the venue--if I had open water nearby I'd have done more training swims there... which is why I want to hold this swim off for a couple years... I need to get more open water races, especially longer ones, next summer so I have a degree of confidence. I actually translated my running experience to water when I trained for the other swim: shorter, faster paced swims during the week, longer ones on the weekends when I had more pool time (similarly when I trained for marathons, I'd do shorter runs, then increase the long run distance on weekends). Leonard, thanks for the suggestion about ginger capsules! I sometimes mix ginger extract in water for its supposed anti-inflammatory effect. (The jury is still out on that one....)
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  • JDY and Leonard, Thanks for your comments/feedback--and congrats on such great places! I know I'm hearing from experts! When I did the 5.25 mile swim, I did the distance in training--in a pool. Do you recommend that in training for BLL? I'm thinking more the swim distance, that is, not necessarily the venue--if I had open water nearby I'd have done more training swims there... which is why I want to hold this swim off for a couple years... I need to get more open water races, especially longer ones, next summer so I have a degree of confidence. I actually translated my running experience to water when I trained for the other swim: shorter, faster paced swims during the week, longer ones on the weekends when I had more pool time (similarly when I trained for marathons, I'd do shorter runs, then increase the long run distance on weekends). Leonard, thanks for the suggestion about ginger capsules! I sometimes mix ginger extract in water for its supposed anti-inflammatory effect. (The jury is still out on that one....)
Children
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