I'm training for my first 10K swim, in October. I have planned and am sticking to monthly yardage increases and a couple of longer "long swims" each month. In May my "long swims" were 3.5 miles, this month I'll bump that up to 4.0
Here's my question. I'm trying to see which of my training habits from other sports translate well to swim training. Specifically, I also do ultra-distance trail running, and when I am comfortable doing a "50K weekend" (30K Saturday, 20K Sunday) then I know I'm ready for a 50K race.
Will the same be roughly true for my swimming? If I'm comfortable doing a 3 mile swim one day and another 3 the next day, am I ready for 6?
Parents
Former Member
If I'm comfortable doing a 3 mile swim one day and another 3 the next day, am I ready for 6?
Yes, you'll be fine. In fact when I did my first 10K in 2010 I found that a 10K is just a longer & slower 5K with a few refreshment stops along the way. However, if you truly race a 5K hard and try to do that for a 10K with no prior 10Ks under your belt, I think you risk blowing up and DNF. In 2010 I swam a 10K on 2 successive days and found the last 2K on the 10K very challenging even though I was swimming slow.
If I'm comfortable doing a 3 mile swim one day and another 3 the next day, am I ready for 6?
Yes, you'll be fine. In fact when I did my first 10K in 2010 I found that a 10K is just a longer & slower 5K with a few refreshment stops along the way. However, if you truly race a 5K hard and try to do that for a 10K with no prior 10Ks under your belt, I think you risk blowing up and DNF. In 2010 I swam a 10K on 2 successive days and found the last 2K on the 10K very challenging even though I was swimming slow.
