At 37, I have been swimming since I was a kid (15 years of that were coached and competitive). I don't compete now, but I swim a couple of times a week and do 1.5 miles each time (in a short course pool, borrring), no rests.
Bottom line: I feel like I'm a pretty good swimmer. All these dolorous short course laps have made me interested in trying some open water... but I have NO idea what to expect.
Anybody have advice for a swimmer of my quality making the jump to some open water? I'm in Minnesota, so (I assume) our water won't be swim-worthy until about July.
Thanks!
first - you ought to be able to do it easily.
some persons and swimmers simply don't like the idea / concept of being in the open water. I refer to 'persons' and 'swimmers' because I have spent a lot of time on lakes and oceans with both 'persons' and swimmers'
...jumping into the Gulf of Mexico 30 miles from shore for a swim and a piss is something some 'persons' and 'swimmers' might not like the idea of...
I have swam about 75 open water events and more often than not water temperatures are 10 - 15 degrees cooler than pool swimming.
I have a theory that temperature is on some sort of log scale - 65 F is cooler than 68 F but 62 F is much, much cooler than 65 F - that 3 F is not equal!
persons and swimmers become fairly dependent on pool visibility, depths, temperatures and lane lines.
I wouldn't be surprised if you had some success in open water events - you might learn to like it very quickly.
good luck
If your preference is to swim continuos swims in your workouts, and not intervals, you are going to love open water. I think you'll do great. For your first swim, do it in the morning on a sunny day. You will love it.
I think you'll love open water. While it's not 180 degrees different from pool swimming, it's a very different experience. I don't know how convenient Madison is from where you are in Minnesota, but they do at least one great race there in August time frame that I've been dying to get to. This summer it is the 1-3 mile National Championships on August 20th (www.usms.org/.../). That's the 4K ironman swim distance which I find to be a great distance to race ... not so long that you need to worry about feeding during the swim and long enough where you can get in a groove.
You should definitely give it a shot. Start with a one-mile race in warm weather. Open water events are a lot of fun. If you're in one of the Great Lakes, you might have to deal with waves. If it's a smaller lake, they probably won't be a factor. Most of my open water races have been in salt water, which won't be an option unless you travel.
Good luck!
See page 7 of this pdf www.minnesotamasters.com/.../2011GoalsBoardCommitteesMNLMSC.pdf
for planned or desired OW swims in 2011, Minnesota Masters.
Looks like a ton this year, starting in June. :applaud:
There is also Teal Lake swim in the UP.
Plus you've got Lake Superior...
For more in upper Midwest, please see the thread I started under Illinois LMSC.
Open water is different. You need to adjust to the idea of swimming in crowds and be prepared to think about drafting (either avoiding the parasite on your feet to doing it cooperatively with a small group).
I grew up in a lake and I'm very comfortable in open water. The lack of visibility, currents, choppiness, and cold spots can be a little disconcerting. You'll also need to develop a strategy for keeping your line toward the next turn. I usually take a stroke with my head up every 25 yards or so to make sure I haven't veered off course. Others may have a better strategy.
There is something magical about a still lake surface just after dawn. Find a good spot for a morning workout and breathe it in. You'll be hooked.
About a year ago I started lap swimming after being out of the pool for over 30 years. I swam 2 open water events last year. One was a fairly easy 1k swim in 80 something degree water. The other was a challenging 2.5K in in 63 degree choppy water. I fell in love with open water and I can't wait for the season to start!! I say go for it!!
open water swimming is the raw and pure of our sport. The pool is an aquarium and sterile, open water is the real thing!
OK maybe some extrapolations here, but then wat is more satisfying than crossing a lake completely or swimming from one town to another in a river or canal? especially if the circumstanses are challenging?
Have fun picking your swims. Build up in distance and difficulty. Let the nearby expert advise you on that!
