10k OWS, Noblesville, IN

I'm very much a minimalist when it comes to training (and coaching) - I'll never be accused of over-training! You mention that you've swum nearly 100 miles this month. I've swum 170 miles all year (assuming my FLOG is right) although 54 of those came in June. My weekly training for the 25K two years ago went like this (all converted to yards): 14K, 12K, 13K, 14K, 13K, 14K, 16K, 23K, 23K, 27K, 32K, 29K, 44K, 19K. So my heaviest four-week period of training was "only" 75 miles, not nearly what you're training now. My only real goal was to finish the race. IF I swim it next year, I'll have a benchmark time to beat so I would probably increase my yardage from what you see here. In fact, my training this year for the 10K was good on a per practice basis but I only swam four days/week. I would increase that to 5-6 days each week for a 25K. It sounds like you're training enough to not only complete the race but to swim a respectable time as well. How did you feel after the 10K two weeks ago? If you were hurting, use that as a guide. I felt terrible after the 10K but nowhere near as bad as finishing the 25K. It felt like I had been in a car wreck; I hurt everywhere! Regarding the kayaks, in 2008 kayaks were available for rental for $30 but it was the responsibility of each swimmer to provide a kayaker. Our team provided a lot of kayakers at no cost but there's no guarantee that this will be an option next summer. I had my own kayak team since I didn't want to subject one person to being on the lake for 7.5 hours. I had one person for laps 1 & 3, another for 2 & 4, and a third for the final lap. It worked well for me but I had "practiced" a time or two with the first two guys. I hope this helps.

Hi: The 10k swim was a very well organized swim - thank you ***! Anyone participating in the 25K next year who has never done it before? I am thinking about it, but would love to talk to others. The farthest I have swam was 8 miles in open water, but can I almost double that???? *** mentioned that the 25K doesn't have a date yet, but he is hoing to have it earlier next year, so the water would be cooler. That would help. Melodee :) WI Masters

I am a member of the host team (NASTi). My understanding is that the 25K will be held in June next year but I'm not sure if that is official yet. A June date should keep the water 5-8 degrees cooler (mid-high 70s) than the 2008 25K and this year's 10K. I swam both events. Melodee, what specifically do you want to know about the 25K? As you can guess it will be five laps of the 5K course and will probably require a personal kayak as a support boat. Other than the 25K two years ago, my only swims longer than 5K have been 10Ks in 2007 and this year. My training for the 25K didn't differ too much from this year's 10K except that I peaked higher for the 25K during the last month of heavy training (prior to a week of taper). Let me know if you have questions that I may not have covered here or you need more detail.

Thanks for your input Jeff. It definitely sounds possible, with the swimming I have been doing now. I will keep my eyes open for the date. The boat escort for the swim might pose some problems, so if you know of any teenagers we could pay to help us out, that would be great. If the kids were there for the whole swim, that would have a long wait for mom:). This weekend I am participating in a swim (Swim for Freedom) across Lake Geneva (8 miles) to raise money for Special Warrior Operation Foundation. The water is not as calm as Morse Reservoir, but it is for a good cause and good practice for the distance.