Has anyone here done the Swim the Suck 10 miler in Chattanooga? There is something about this race that really appeals to me and has since I learned about it last fall, which is odd because until very recently (as in last Sunday (5/19) - Pensacola 3 Mile Bridge Swim - ~3.3 miles factoring in getting to the finish area, I think) I was essentially a pool swimmer only. I really enjoyed that swim, despite the repeated mouth- and sinus-filling walls of water in my face and extremely limited sighting skills (fortunately, keeping a large bridge on my left was well within my abilities).
At this point, the earliest I could conceivably do the race would be in October 2014, but I'm wondering what sort of open water experience I should get under my belt before making a reasonable decision regarding my competence for this race. It seems to me that since this is a current-aided course it would feel a bit shorter than 10 miles. I would also think that because it's a river swim it would be less choppy than the bay experience was last week. However, it's still considerably longer than the roughly 5k swim I've done.
Advice?
If you can do the pensacola bay swim, then you will be able to do the Suck. The swim is down stream, with a current. The current depends on how much water TVA is letting out from the upstream dams.
The event is well organized by Karah Nazor. Every swimmer has a kayak escort, as well as 3-4 motorized boats. One boat is in front of the pack, one in the middle, and one in the rear. The coast guard also has a boat involved in front of the event to let approaching boats, esp. barges know what is going on.
Swimmers in the event range from all levels. This year, an Olympic gold medalist from the 1996 games is signed-up. There is also a pool only swimmer, who's best event is the 50 free, doing it for the first time. I am going to kayak for him during the event. I have told him that if he becomes the last swimmer, I will run the kayak over him until the finish for taking so long.
The time limit is usually 5 or 6 hours. Everyone the past 3 years that has finished the event has made the time with no problem.
The day before the event, the pre-race dinner is made by a number of volunteers. They do a great job with the food. The weather this past year was overcast and rainy for a bit of the swim. The water temp. was a littler cooler than previous years, so pencil neck bodies(i.e. Jeff Roddin or Geek) got cold pretty quickly.
I believe the 2013 swim has been moved up a few weeks in attempt to have a bit warmer water.
If you are going to do it in 2014, sign-up the day the event opens. There are limited spots and they go faster than the distance day at CZ zones.
If you can do the pensacola bay swim, then you will be able to do the Suck. The swim is down stream, with a current. The current depends on how much water TVA is letting out from the upstream dams.
The event is well organized by Karah Nazor. Every swimmer has a kayak escort, as well as 3-4 motorized boats. One boat is in front of the pack, one in the middle, and one in the rear. The coast guard also has a boat involved in front of the event to let approaching boats, esp. barges know what is going on.
Swimmers in the event range from all levels. This year, an Olympic gold medalist from the 1996 games is signed-up. There is also a pool only swimmer, who's best event is the 50 free, doing it for the first time. I am going to kayak for him during the event. I have told him that if he becomes the last swimmer, I will run the kayak over him until the finish for taking so long.
The time limit is usually 5 or 6 hours. Everyone the past 3 years that has finished the event has made the time with no problem.
The day before the event, the pre-race dinner is made by a number of volunteers. They do a great job with the food. The weather this past year was overcast and rainy for a bit of the swim. The water temp. was a littler cooler than previous years, so pencil neck bodies(i.e. Jeff Roddin or Geek) got cold pretty quickly.
I believe the 2013 swim has been moved up a few weeks in attempt to have a bit warmer water.
If you are going to do it in 2014, sign-up the day the event opens. There are limited spots and they go faster than the distance day at CZ zones.
