Hi,
I'm signed up for the maryland swim for life on July 13. There is a 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 mile option and I've chosen the 5. I've read as many of the previous posts here as possible on training. But, I would still like to ensure I'm on the right track and would appreciate some advice. I can always change which distance I'm doing if my training doesn't go well.
My Background: I'm a triathlete but I'm awful at swimming. I'm doing this swim to force myself to get better at swimming somehow. I've done some 1.2 mile swims in half irons and pure open water events. I can currently swim 2 miles in the pool without stopping. Recently I've been practicing the Total Immersion method in an attempt to become more efficient. I swim 4 days per week: 3x1500yd + 1x3000yd.
Goal: Just finish the 5 mile swim under my own power.
Questions:
1. How long should my "long swim" be in order to complete this event? How much should my weekly yardage be? Keep in mind that I've just learned the Total Immersion method and I'm still not that great at it. So, i've been trying to spend a few days a week just focusing on form.
2. Would it be advisable to wear a wet suit? I have a 5/3mm full wetsuit. Water temps are projected to be mid 70s. The wetsuit would give me an advantage and is permissible if the temp doesn't rise above 78F. But, in the mid 70s, would I overheat?
3. Does anyone have any other thoughts on training?
Thanks! :-)
-Jonathan
Hi,
1. How long should my "long swim" be in order to complete this event? How much should my weekly yardage be? Keep in mind that I've just learned the Total Immersion method and I'm still not that great at it. So, i've been trying to spend a few days a week just focusing on form.
2. Would it be advisable to wear a wet suit? I have a 5/3mm full wetsuit. Water temps are projected to be mid 70s. The wetsuit would give me an advantage and is permissible if the temp doesn't rise above 78F. But, in the mid 70s, would I overheat?
3. Does anyone have any other thoughts on training?
6k per week isn't really enough to be a good triathlon swimmer.
Build your longest pool swim up to 5 miles long with only the nutrition you can carry on you. Last time I did it there were kayakers with water but you couldn't count on them being at any particular spot.
Build your longest open water swim to 3 miles.
Get our weekly volume to 12k.
Do that and you'll have a fine race.
As for wetsuit. totally up to you and what you are trying to accomplish.
Doing two miles in a pool is vastly different from doing 2 miles in open water.
Many of us marathoners swim in one session farther than a swim marathon (10K). I wouldn't equate marathon runner training to open water swim training. At least, not too much.
6k per week isn't really enough to be a good triathlon swimmer.
Build your longest pool swim up to 5 miles long with only the nutrition you can carry on you. Last time I did it there were kayakers with water but you couldn't count on them being at any particular spot.
Build your longest open water swim to 3 miles.
Get our weekly volume to 12k.
Do that and you'll have a fine race.
As for wetsuit. totally up to you and what you are trying to accomplish.
thanks for the advice. I really do need to up the yardage. as for the wet suite, I'm just trying to do whatever will give me the best chance of finishing :-)
I’m having a tough time envisioning an awful swimmer swimming 1.2 miles in open water. So it’s hard to give any thoughts on training. I do suggest working with a coach on both stroke and open water technique. If your stroke is technically bad and your goal is a 5-miler, then fix your stroke before you jump up your yardage.
well maybe I'm not "awful". I'm just awful compared to my bike and my run vs the rest of the field. :-). I might get a coach at some point. using the total immersion swimming DVDs, I've been ding much better.
First of all, this is always a fun event which I have had the pleasure of doing a few times.
I didn’t see you mention your speed but it may be something to consider before attempting the five mile. The time limit is 3.5 hours and you should be prepared to go slower than a five mile pool swim. This race starts at same time every year so tides may or may not be in your favor. A few years ago when race was shortened to two miles due to storms, I remember swimming against a stiff current and it taking me 38 minutes to go out for first mile. The way back only took 19 minutes. That one worked out to around my normal two mile time. The next year I was swimming the five mile and I recall swimming against the current for the first couple of miles but that the tide changed and I seemed to be swimming against it on the way back as well. My time was about 25 minutes slower than I would have expected. Just something to keep in mind.
is there a site that I can use to predict the current on race day and time? by the way, thanks for all the advice. if it is going to be lower 80s I'll definitely skip the wet suit :-)
according to this site: gofishingforum.net/tide.pl
if I'm reading it right for 7/13 at 9am, the tide should be coming in, thus assisting the swimmers swimming up river. then at 1130 it turns around and pushes us back out on the return leg.
