Hi All,
I've been swimming for about a year now, and the last few months I've started to take much more of an interest and kicked up my routines.
I do 2-3k (yards and meters; pool switches) 4-5 times week, and I usually average about and hour for 3km.
I just signed up for an OW mile in 1.5months, which I don't think I'll have too much trouble with, but I'm also considering a current assisted 10k (they say it swims like a 6k, avg times are about 2hrs) at the end of Sept, which gives me just about two months...so:
1. Is it feasible to train for this kind of race in that amount of time?
2. What kind of diet is optimal for this kind of training? I've been operating in a 500kcal deficit for the last few months, but I sort of think that I should be eating more in preparation for an event of this kind.
3. Water temps should be 65-70F for these races - is a wetsuit necessary for this kind of temp?
I've searched these forums and the net for answers, but in the end it seemed prudent to just ask, as the other resources weren't yielding much. Thanks in advance.
I'm in the city. The 1mi I signed up for is the CIBBOWS aquarium swim, but it was just so close to the Litte Red race that I figured if it was realistic, I would try and sign up for it earlier.
At this point, I think I'm going to try to do some short OW events when I can this summer and go for the bigger ones next summer.
Thanks again.
I would suggest getting as much OW experience as you can, even if it is little dollops. (Bigger dollops better if you decide to plan a long swim.)
Dialing in nutrition and rehydration for a long swim is important, both during and after. Sunscreen. Managing leg cramps. A very big change is the huge temperature drop from a typical pool temp to OW of 70 or below. Cold-water acclimating is a long, slow process. Right now, an hour at 70 may leave you feeling chilled to the bone. If you can swim OW once a week through to end of Sept, you'll be in much better shape next season.
OW is marvelous. The water is alive, responsive, might play with you or beat you down. A following current can surprise you! You'll probably alter your stroke, or learn how to adjust it to different conditions.
And you meet the nicest people! And have access to 10-mile lakes, and confidence to go for a swim!
:bliss:
I'm in the city. The 1mi I signed up for is the CIBBOWS aquarium swim, but it was just so close to the Litte Red race that I figured if it was realistic, I would try and sign up for it earlier.
At this point, I think I'm going to try to do some short OW events when I can this summer and go for the bigger ones next summer.
Thanks again.
I would suggest getting as much OW experience as you can, even if it is little dollops. (Bigger dollops better if you decide to plan a long swim.)
Dialing in nutrition and rehydration for a long swim is important, both during and after. Sunscreen. Managing leg cramps. A very big change is the huge temperature drop from a typical pool temp to OW of 70 or below. Cold-water acclimating is a long, slow process. Right now, an hour at 70 may leave you feeling chilled to the bone. If you can swim OW once a week through to end of Sept, you'll be in much better shape next season.
OW is marvelous. The water is alive, responsive, might play with you or beat you down. A following current can surprise you! You'll probably alter your stroke, or learn how to adjust it to different conditions.
And you meet the nicest people! And have access to 10-mile lakes, and confidence to go for a swim!
:bliss:
