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?
Former Member
I guess my answer would be that I'm not sure. I have a feeling the view from a boat is quite different than a swimmer's view from the water and being in the water is the only experience I have. However, it seems to me the bulk of the safety personnel are positioned between the first and second buoys (i.e., on the second leg). If someone turned midway in the first leg it's possible they might not even notice this person and even if they did the person might be too far away to identify who the person was. If there were race personnel positioned near the first round buoy where someone allegedly turned then, yes, for sure that person would stick out like a sore thumb, but I don't recall how close to that spot anyone was positioned.
I posted earlier that I thought all the safety personnel were positioned on the outside of the course. I probably shouldn't have said that because I don't know this for sure. I always breathe to the right and since the course is swum CCW I'm always looking toward the outside of the course.
edit: found a race photo on bigshoulder.org that shows a pretty good view of the course: www.bigshoulders.org/.../dsc03163.html
You can see on the right side the round, mid-leg buoy and further on the triangular buoy marking the turn between the first and second leg. I see a couple boats positioned along the first leg and I think the lifeguards in these boats would definitely see if someone cut the course. What I don't know is whether the lifeguards are purely there for safety or are also marshalling the course.
I'm not sure whether or not someone rounding the 1st round mark would "stick out like a sore thumb" either. As indicated, the vast majority of safety boats were situated on the outside of the course. In retrospect, it may be a good idea to stagger the safety boats on either side of the course in the future and to designate a race official to each boat. I don't know whether or not guards instructed to marshall the course in this years race... I doubt it since their primary objective is to watch out for swimmers safety.
Andy, please share your training, competing, nutrition, physical, and mental techniques.
I realize this list of questions is overwhelming. Feel free to take your time and answer one at a time.
I think all event winners should be required to answer these questions and post them on the USMS Forum. They would be a great help to many people who are working hard to swim faster. :-)
:applaud:
Way to go Andy! I knew you could do it! Don't worry about all of these online haters and dweebs maligning you from computer chairs. You done good!
:applaud:
Way to go Andy! I knew you could do it! Don't worry about all of these online haters and dweebs maligning you from computer chairs. You done good!
I AM NOT sitting in a chair.
I didn't know he has a nickname. Does he know?
No, I think that's his nickname now that he can estimate the length of an OW course just by looking at it. OK, I guess he swam it too.
I'm unaware of many of the rules and regulations of masters swimming, but... Wouldn't it make more sense to group swimmers in heats based on their times in order to promote a more "authentic" open water race/championship. Maybe this wouldn't be the ideal setup for all races, but for those in which a "national champ" is crowned I feel that this may be the best route to take. I'm certainly aware that this may present some logistical issues, but... one of the most magnificent aspects of open water swimming is that it often involves a tremendous amount of strategy. In other words, we all know that the fastest swimmer on the course doesn't always cross the finish line or slap the touch pad first... Grant Hackett, arguably the greatest long distance swimmer of all time can attest to this given his struggles in open water races. An open water champion is often crowned based upon their particular strategy or skill at navigating the waters. There are even swimmers that excel at using currents to their advantage or judging the right time to break away from the pack... Think of Larisa Ilchenko... she's won 8 world championships... all of which were captured by strategic maneuvers in the last kilometer... the "Ilchenko move" is now well known among those in the open water swimming world... I guess what I'm trying to say is that if USMS promotes a race that crowns an individual champion in a particular event, it should be done so in accordance with the spirit of the sport. If multiple heats are needed in a particular race (i.e. a national championship or even future big shoulders swims), I believe that pairing/grouping swimmers by predetermined standards will produce a much better environment for all swimmers and spectators; a more authentic open water experience. Swimmers, coaches, and spectators will have less reason to gripe about who swam the best race of the day... they'll also get a better taste of what open water swimming/racing is all about!
What is wrong in this picture. (dsc03165.htm) I hope we have a violation of the one suit rule here!
:) I saw that guy. It was a single suit just designed to look sort of like a thong.
Someone I know who swam said the course was short and looked more like 4700-4800 meters. (He is RD for an OW series that includes a 5K).
Is he known as "The Human GPS?" :)
Bob Bruce, I presume?
I was about to write my concession speech (First I would like to thank KNelson who was the first to PM me about this. Make no mistakes folks, it is him, not me who is to blame for all of this)
Hey, no question I think this is an interesting topic or I wouldn't be posting so much on it either! In all honestly I'm torn. I find the time remarkable to the point of being very difficult to believe, but on the other hand I don't see why Andy Seibt--who has swum this event many times--would all of a sudden decide to pull a fast one.
