Trying to convince my best friend to start training for the 2014 swim around Key West as a 2 person relay team. Neither of us have done an open water event before, but have been pool swimmers our whole lives. I am just starting to get back into it after about a year long hiatus and can both swim about 2 miles easily with no training (actually, to be honest, I am HORRIBLY out of shape right now...)
There is plenty of info out there about the solo swim, but not as much about the relay. What do you think? Is it too big of a task for a couple of newbies? Advice on the swim in general? Am I totally crazy for choosing THIS swim? She seems to think so. :) Thanks for any advice!
I don't think you're totally crazy if you're both lifelong swimmers and you have a year to train. I would definitely try to do at least one shorter open water swim between now and then though, just to get used to the idea of swimming in the ocean and dealing with things you don't find in a chlorinated pool. On the Keys swim, there is a good chance you'll see some (non-threatening) wildlife, and some parts of the swim are very shallow - I distinctly remember at one point during my leg it was so shallow I had to do a modified breaststroke and had these sea grasses tickling my belly. But that lasted for just a couple of minutes. Practice feeding and taking fluids during long swims and prepare yourself for the heat - Key West in June is HOT, both in the water and outside it.
The Swim Around Key West was my very first open-water swim. I think it was in 1997, when I was 15. My friends and I put together a six-person relay team, which was so much fun. My friend's parents escorted us on their boat, and given that we were swimming only about two miles each, most of the day was spent sunning on the deck. It was awesome. That's always another option - get more friends to join you and make it a 4, 5 or 6 person relay, which then might not be so daunting. I keep trying to convince two friends to do it as a three-person relay, but have been unsuccessful so far.
You can be ready by 2014 for the 12-mile swim relay. I would sign up for several 1, 2 and 3-mile open water swims this season. Join a Masters swim program and start doing 3-4 workouts a week. Sign up for the FKCC Key West swim (avoid the other one). Make sure you bring a good boat pilot and crew. Be careful when renting a power boat down in KW. There are some sketchy boat rental companies down there. Like @lanehog said: The water is in the mid to high 80s and the air is in the 90s in June. Make sure you are protected from the sun and stay hyrated and fed.
