Ok, so the more they email me, the more I get nervous about the water temp. Last year it was 69 which stung to get in, but it made for a nice swimming temp. By the end, though, my fingers and toes felt a little numb, but that could have been tired (??).
But this year, it could be up to 10 degrees colder?! What to do when the coolest water I can find here in Cincinnati is 80?
This is a great idea. It seems to be common practice -- either enforced or by custom -- at a lot of the marathons my wife runs. I don't know why people shouldn't be "seeded" for an OW race that is a Nat'l championship by time.
Same reason they seed most events first by age group and only after that by time at pool Nationals. If I start with all the women my age, then I know who I have to beat to get that medal.
Some OW races (e.g., Big Shoulders) do it by age/sex groups, and others (e.g., Waikiki "Roughwater") do it by estimated time. I prefer estimated time myself because I'd rather swim among people my speed than pass and be passed, just as I prefer seeding regardless of age or sex at meets. But I can see why others might prefer dividing waves by age/sex rather than by time. It's probably a lot easier for the race organizers, too, seeing as how most people can report their age and sex accurately but might be a little less accurate on seed time.
This is a great idea. It seems to be common practice -- either enforced or by custom -- at a lot of the marathons my wife runs. I don't know why people shouldn't be "seeded" for an OW race that is a Nat'l championship by time.
Same reason they seed most events first by age group and only after that by time at pool Nationals. If I start with all the women my age, then I know who I have to beat to get that medal.
Some OW races (e.g., Big Shoulders) do it by age/sex groups, and others (e.g., Waikiki "Roughwater") do it by estimated time. I prefer estimated time myself because I'd rather swim among people my speed than pass and be passed, just as I prefer seeding regardless of age or sex at meets. But I can see why others might prefer dividing waves by age/sex rather than by time. It's probably a lot easier for the race organizers, too, seeing as how most people can report their age and sex accurately but might be a little less accurate on seed time.
