Alcatraz Challenge this May - First Time Open Water

1) Open water swimming - How does it differ from closed pool swimming? I've read a number of people mention "sighting", which is where I assume you look where you're going, but unsure how to incorporate that into normal breathing (where I look to side). There are many books out there to read to get more of an idea of what you've gotten yourself into. Try Mastering Swimming, which has plenty of OW info in it. A little more advanced is Munatones's book Open Water Swimming. Also, there is plenty of info online, and there are people's blogs, like Freshwater Swimmer and Rob Aquatics. 2) Open water training - I was a state / varsity level swimmer in high school, but afterwards have only sparingly swam. So, I don't think I could swim the full distance easily right now. My plan is to build up to 3 miles in a closed pool over next 2 months, then start training in open water over next 2 months. I found some plans (below), but what training programs have other people used? I have about 4 months to prepare... Really, prepare yourself for swimming 30% farther than the race distance. OK, that's what I do, because I am horrible at sighting. I can't wait until later this year; I will swim a long race with a GPS. I want to see exactly how much extra I swim due to my lack of navigational IQ. Check out the workouts by Mallory Mead in these forums, if you have access. Plus, read through the Open Water threads in these forums for tons of advice. 3) Wetsuit - what do you look for in a wetsuit? Where do you normally find these? Besides the "who knows where this has been" factor (which presumably could be fixed with a wash), is there anything wrong with used wetsuits (seem significantly cheaper)? If it isn't mandatory, don't wear one. Besides it being an added expense, you'll have to practice swimming in it as it'll change your streamline, and the last thing you want to do is wear it for the first time in the heat of an OW start, when all the arms and legs are thrashing and you're having enough trouble finding air (yes, this turns out to be some of the best fun, trust me). Then there is all the problems with skin rubbing. I still have scars on my chest from my sleeveless wetsuit at a 10K last September (wetsuit was mandatory). In fact, today is exactly five months since that race, and the scars have not healed yet. If you're worried about the cold, just do some OW practice swims in water close to expected temp. Unless it is really cold (54 or below is my threshold), you won't feel it after a couple dozen yards, you'll be excited so much about doing the race. Good luck and welcome to the addiction!

1) Open water swimming - How does it differ from closed pool swimming? I've read a number of people mention "sighting", which is where I assume you look where you're going, but unsure how to incorporate that into normal breathing (where I look to side). There are many books out there to read to get more of an idea of what you've gotten yourself into. Try Mastering Swimming, which has plenty of OW info in it. A little more advanced is Munatones's book Open Water Swimming. Also, there is plenty of info online, and there are people's blogs, like Freshwater Swimmer and Rob Aquatics. 2) Open water training - I was a state / varsity level swimmer in high school, but afterwards have only sparingly swam. So, I don't think I could swim the full distance easily right now. My plan is to build up to 3 miles in a closed pool over next 2 months, then start training in open water over next 2 months. I found some plans (below), but what training programs have other people used? I have about 4 months to prepare... Really, prepare yourself for swimming 30% farther than the race distance. OK, that's what I do, because I am horrible at sighting. I can't wait until later this year; I will swim a long race with a GPS. I want to see exactly how much extra I swim due to my lack of navigational IQ. Check out the workouts by Mallory Mead in these forums, if you have access. Plus, read through the Open Water threads in these forums for tons of advice. 3) Wetsuit - what do you look for in a wetsuit? Where do you normally find these? Besides the "who knows where this has been" factor (which presumably could be fixed with a wash), is there anything wrong with used wetsuits (seem significantly cheaper)? If it isn't mandatory, don't wear one. Besides it being an added expense, you'll have to practice swimming in it as it'll change your streamline, and the last thing you want to do is wear it for the first time in the heat of an OW start, when all the arms and legs are thrashing and you're having enough trouble finding air (yes, this turns out to be some of the best fun, trust me). Then there is all the problems with skin rubbing. I still have scars on my chest from my sleeveless wetsuit at a 10K last September (wetsuit was mandatory). In fact, today is exactly five months since that race, and the scars have not healed yet. If you're worried about the cold, just do some OW practice swims in water close to expected temp. Unless it is really cold (54 or below is my threshold), you won't feel it after a couple dozen yards, you'll be excited so much about doing the race. Good luck and welcome to the addiction!