3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

rxleakem — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:22:43 GMT

Great job, Erin! :applaud:

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

Former Member — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:23:02 GMT

I'll disagree with others here and say definitely do the 3-mile distance in the pool, and more than once, before the event. Bump up some other days to 4k in the pool. Ocean swimming will present enough challenges that you'll want to be very confident in the basic endurance to go that distance. I agree, thank you ViveBene -- I'm pretty comfortable in open water, bay, ocean, etc. My hesitation is the distance, so the confidence builder of a 5k in the pool will definitely help!!

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

Former Member — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:20:17 GMT

Here's the link to the OC race: octrirunning.com/.../

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

Former Member — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:18:39 GMT

Thanks so much Mike -- I apologize for taking forever to respond . . . husband had a fall, surgery, blah blah blah. :) Mike, the race is in OC MD, benefits Hopkins TBI research. There's a 1, 3 and 9-miler. NINE-MILER. I'm sure you all around here don't find that shocking. But I do! My time in the one mile was 25:25, PR for that race, 5th in my age group. I was hoping to place, but my husband's injury the day before the race kind of interrupted that goal. Thank you thank you thank you all!

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

ViveBene — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:21:29 GMT

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

Former Member — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:35:33 GMT

erin - if you're comfortable in open water I do not anticipate you having any problems. 9K weekly in the pool and the Chesapeake 1-Mile Swim should have you capable for a typical 5K, but if you do have any reservations or do not like conditions do not hesitate to DNS or DNF. You did not mention your time for the 1-mile swim. As miketyson notes you should anticipate being in the water on the order of 75 - 120 minutes. best of luck.

RE: 3-mile training -- first time at this distance - need advice

mjtyson — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:50:41 GMT

I'll tell you what I did before my first 5K. I just swam the open water workouts in these forums. If your'e a USMS member, you can access them. If not, follow a plan like Swim Smooth or some other program you can find. I don't think I ever did a 5K in the pool prior to my first 5K in open water. I just got my shoulder used to doing lots of stroking. I didn't worry about speed, but still did interval workouts, but did "longer" ones, like 500s. I knew I had the mental stamina to do the 5K, I just wanted to make sure my body could take that much time (I guessed 1:45) horizontal. In the end, the swim was no problem. I completed it in 1:48 or something like that. The problem I had was navigation. I wish I had a gps, because I probably really swam 5.5K or more. Bottom line, search around in these forums and the marathon swimmers forums and you'll find lots of advice. Good luck. What is the race, btw? If you're in the DC area, don't forget WaveOne's 5K and 10K in September at National Harbor. Very nice race; only problem is you have to do so many loops (4 per 5K) so you gotta remember what lap you're on!