Newbie Training

RE: Newbie Training

Former Member — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 11:45:53 GMT

I figured it would probably be a long shot. Thanks for the feedback.

RE: Newbie Training

JanSwim — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:00:54 GMT

There is a USMS thread and a Marathon Swimming Forum thread that you will probably find helpful. To give some perspective, a 9 mile swim is roughly equivalent athletically to a 36 mile run - for someone who is equally good at running and swimming. For a runner, swimming 9 miles might be more like running 50 miles or even more, if they are an inefficient swimmer (if they can finish that long a swim at all). Since you don't have a strong swimming background, and you don't have much time, a Masters team with an experienced coach would be the way to go. Even with a good coach and team, there is a very good chance that a 9 miler is just too big a goal for 11 months. But, if you're highly, highly motivated, already fit, have an extra hour or 2 most days, and have a good feel for the water maybe you can do it.

RE: Newbie Training

mmlr38 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:31:42 GMT

Do you have any swimming experience? Can you swim freestyle well? If so, how long can you currently comfortably swim continuously? If you can't swim well right now, completing a 9-mile swim less than a year from now seems unlikely but if you can swim OK, and assuming that there is no time limit for the swim, it really comes down to how much pain you can endure.