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?
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?
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?
