This September I will be swimming my first 5K open water swim (just throwing myself into this). Does anyone have a training program for a 5K? I am a hardcore runner and have done marathons and half ironmans (open water 1.2 swims). As a runner I crave day-to-day specific training plans.
I consider myself a good swimmer (thinking on trying for a 1:20 - 1:25 5K) and/or an intermediate. The swim is Big Shoulders in Chicago, so if anyone is training at Oak Street Beach let me know!!!
This September I will be swimming my first 5K open water swim (just throwing myself into this). Does anyone have a training program for a 5K? I am a hardcore runner and have done marathons and half ironmans (open water 1.2 swims). As a runner I crave day-to-day specific training plans.
I consider myself a good swimmer (thinking on trying for a 1:20 - 1:25 5K) and/or an intermediate. The swim is Big Shoulders in Chicago, so if anyone is training at Oak Street Beach let me know!!!
Patrick,
Congrats on signing up for Big Shoulders - you'll love it!
Knowing only that you're a "good/intermediate" swimmer, it's tough to offer more than generalities. But I think you could do worse than to:
- Join a Masters team;
- Attend as many practices as you can fit in your schedule;
- Supplement with occasional long open-water swims to build your cold tolerance and navigational IQ.
5K is an endurance event, but still short enough that building your speed will help. Masters workouts will help with both. I personally have experience with Chicago Masters and Chicago Blue Dolphins - both are excellent options.
There are a variety of ad-hoc open water groups around here. Ohio Street Beach is popular with triathletes - show up most any morning and you're likely to find them. As Chick-o'-Sea mentioned, Promontory Point is another option (to my mind, the best). Come join us!
This September I will be swimming my first 5K open water swim (just throwing myself into this). Does anyone have a training program for a 5K? I am a hardcore runner and have done marathons and half ironmans (open water 1.2 swims). As a runner I crave day-to-day specific training plans.
I consider myself a good swimmer (thinking on trying for a 1:20 - 1:25 5K) and/or an intermediate. The swim is Big Shoulders in Chicago, so if anyone is training at Oak Street Beach let me know!!!
Patrick,
Congrats on signing up for Big Shoulders - you'll love it!
Knowing only that you're a "good/intermediate" swimmer, it's tough to offer more than generalities. But I think you could do worse than to:
- Join a Masters team;
- Attend as many practices as you can fit in your schedule;
- Supplement with occasional long open-water swims to build your cold tolerance and navigational IQ.
5K is an endurance event, but still short enough that building your speed will help. Masters workouts will help with both. I personally have experience with Chicago Masters and Chicago Blue Dolphins - both are excellent options.
There are a variety of ad-hoc open water groups around here. Ohio Street Beach is popular with triathletes - show up most any morning and you're likely to find them. As Chick-o'-Sea mentioned, Promontory Point is another option (to my mind, the best). Come join us!
