Probably should have asked these two questions before now. I have a 2.4 miler in the morning in the Ohio River near Louisville. It's 1.2 mile course repeated with half the course up stream and half downstream. Organizers promise the current is only 1 mph. Last year I did a swim across the Ohio in Cincinnati. While warming up in what was supposed to be a 2 mph current, I really noticed the impact (I typically only average about 2.5 mph without a current.) So here are my two questions:
When swimming up stream, should I adjust stroke rate and length? My typical ow distance stroke is a slower stroke rate, but maximum stretch and pull on each stroke (about 14 per 25y). But I'm wondering if more compact strokes at a higher rate would make a difference.
Like cycling should I coast more on the downstream portions and dig in on the upstream?
Former Member
i did a swim in the hudson last year against a strong current and what i noticed was this:
i could feel the disturbance from a swimmer who was more than 25 yards in front of me which made it easy to follow his line without sighting much. i tried to keep a long line and also keep my body deep. i did not increase my stroke rate at all and eventually caught up.
If you have a strong kick (not me), you don't have to shorten quite as much.
Not me either. . . left me somewhere about age 30.
Thanks for the wonderful advice. I shall use it wisely.
On another note, the event is sanctioned by USMS, USA Swimming, and USAT, but race officials just let us know by email that they postponed the USAT members starting time by 90 minutes because the sanctioning bodies require that the USAT folks start times not be too close to the others. Wonder what that's about?
In general, yes, increase rate & decrease length in going upstream and stretch out on the downstream. If you have a strong kick (not me), you don't have to shorten quite as much.
Also:
1) When going upstream it is usually best to get as close to the shore as possible (slowest current) and when going downstream, get as close to the middle of the river as you can. That's a general rule of thumb and there are exceptions.
2) Get a satellite map of the course and review it for possible points where the going might be easier/harder.
-LBJ
Thank you both for your help, but, alas, your advice was for naught. The course was clockwise starting up stream towards the center of the river and coming back down stream near the bank. First time I've ever been on a course that I needed to keep buoys to my right. Small buoys, and I couldn't sight worth a flip as I typically sight when I breathe to the left. I zigged. I zagged. I swam at least a quarter mile longer than the 2.4 mile course.
Seriously, we swam in the heart of thoroughbread and NASCAR country, and they made us turn right?!
Fun swim, I guess. First time I've ever:
a) had someone to swim with after a half mile
b) caught someone in the last 200 meters of a race
I tried to keep body deep as Chaos prescribed, but every time I did I veered so badly to the left that I couldn't sight the tiny buoys. Live and learn, I guess.
Accounting for not tapering (stiff for the first half of the race), the current, the clockwise course, and the failure to eat decently two days before the race, I'll take my time. Means the Big Shoulders should go well for me in three weeks.
On another note, the event is sanctioned by USMS, USA Swimming, and USAT, but race officials just let us know by email that they postponed the USAT members starting time by 90 minutes because the sanctioning bodies require that the USAT folks start times not be too close to the others. Wonder what that's about?
It's an insurance thing, I did a race in Long Beach yesterday that had the same set up. USA Swimming and USMS in one wave, USAT in another.
