First OWS

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 07:31:49 GMT

I'm there. Mirror Lake in the Adirondacks. Heading over to the beach shortly. Rain all day though. It doesn't look like it will stop the event, but there's a possibility I could be pulled if thunder clouds come by. Update later.

RE: First OWS

Lyn — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 07:50:04 GMT

Looking forward to hearing about your swim, and seeing the photos! Here's one of my favorite videos. It's actually an advertisement, but barely. It really inspired me when I first started swimming a bit late in life. www.swimmersdaily.com/.../

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 07:40:23 GMT

I have yet to complete an open water race and already in the news. I'll send some pics next week after the event. dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/.../jack-berkery-pioneering-his-way-to-open.html

RE: First OWS

Lyn — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 06:31:41 GMT

OK, I did it, signed up for the 1 mile OWS in Lake Placid, NY, Aug 13. I have never done a swim race of any distance in any water before, so this will be something completely new at age 68. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Oh yeah, and there's another one in Lake George, NY, Aug 27, 2.5 Km. I'll wait to see how I feel after this one before deciding on the next. Congratulations Jack, I'm sure you'll love it. I started swimming last year at 63 and the transformation in my general fitness is so remarkable. I swim 4-6 days a week now, open water every weekend in summer, and enter as many races as possible with 3 goals: have fun, finish the race, and (a very soft goal) don't finish last. I'll be in Lake George on Aug. 27th for the 10K, maybe we'll run into each other. Have a blast in Lake Placid.

RE: First OWS

srcoyote — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 07:05:32 GMT

OK, I did it, signed up for the 1 mile OWS in Lake Placid, NY, Aug 13. I have never done a swim race of any distance in any water before, so this will be something completely new at age 68. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Oh yeah, and there's another one in Lake George, NY, Aug 27, 2.5 Km. I'll wait to see how I feel after this one before deciding on the next. I'm cheering you on, and I'm excited for you. I agree with flystorms. Let the pack duke it out at the start. Hang back for a few seconds and enjoy the lake, the sky, and all that you can see every time you breathe. Swim on!

RE: First OWS

flystorms — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 10:45:52 GMT

Good for you, Jack! A 1-miler was my gateway drug into OWS, so welcome to the club. :) Please do let us know how you do! My advice would be to get some time in open water by yourself a few times at least before this race. Start at the back of the mass of people and wait until you're ready to go. It saves you from all the melee at the beginning. If you start to get exerted or panicky, either do some *** stroke or back stroke, breathe, breathe, breathe, then roll over and continue. You can do this!

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 02:36:32 GMT

RE: First OWS

srcoyote — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 02:30:13 GMT

I recently returned from swimming the Henley Classic in England. It's a 2.1K swim upriver in the Thames on the course of the Royal Regatta (rowing). It's swum on the rowing course the Sunday before the regatta begins. Water was about 65F and, as I understand from others, the current was much stiffer than in years past. Out of 590 entrants, only 50 of us swam without wetsuits. I noted that open water swimming is more popular in the UK than in the US for all levels of swimmer. If you have time and access to water you get in -- but with a wetsuit. A wetsuit seemed to be a given for almost everyone. While there were some triathletes in the swim, most weren't. I stuck to my skin and garnered plenty of awe for it. Later that week, I swam in Queenford Lake with an open water swimming club. Out of about 80 people who entered the lake at some point, I was one of two who entered in skins. Water there was about 67F. I loved every minute of the 5K or so I chose to swim.

RE: First OWS

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 10:13:49 GMT

Congrats! That sounds like a great start! I have not done open water swimming in many years and recently started with some short 1KM swims in the Adriatic. Luckily I have been able to avoid the groups of jellyfish and the waves make things much more sporty! I need to find a nice lake but I just love saltwater.

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 08:35:02 GMT

The 1 & 2 mile OWS in Lake Placid NY defines 2 categories. As far as I can see there were only 6 of 100 with wetsuits last year. www.betsyowensswim.com/.../swimwear-rules

RE: First OWS

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 07:57:48 GMT

Purist open-water swimmers and swim marathoners tend to look down upon triathletes who always wear wetsuits. The added buoyancy is seen as an unfair competitive advantage. The open-water 5k that I've swum the past couple of years allows people to wear wetsuits if they want but those who do are no longer eligible for awards, which seems like a fair compromise. In triathlons, where nearly everyone is wearing a wetsuit, I suppose those who wear the most expensive suits might also have a competitive advantage, just as those who have the more expensive, lightest weight bikes. I rode a 20-year-old 40-lb Trek hybrid in my first tri (and no wetsuit).

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 08:06:37 GMT

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 07:34:15 GMT

Drunk boaters are the worst... There are a few small lakes hereabouts that prohibit motor boats. This is one of them. Others are in State Parks. Decades ago, they had gotten so polluted that they became unswimmable and unfishable, so the towns passed ordinances banning engines on the worst ones. Magically, they cleaned up.

RE: First OWS

aqueoushumor — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 05:09:32 GMT

Triathletes love wetsuits. Actually, they seem to like equipment in general. Something about them shaving 30 seconds off their mile time (the swim is 400 yards and it takes 5 minutes to peel the thing off!). I don't like wetsuits, but I find it necessary for me if water is much below 70 and the swim is long. I have been at swims where I was one of a few in a wetsuit and triathlons where I have been one of a few not in a wetsuit. Go figure. I am glad you are enjoying open water swimming. It's the best. Drunk boaters are the worst...

RE: First OWS

airborne18th — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 02:20:50 GMT

2nd OW session last night. I felt much more comfortable this time. Got in the groove from the start, mostly because I waited and began way back in the pack. I could get to like this. But here's what I don't get. Maybe because I'm something of a purist. I train with triathletes and they all wear wetsuits. It was 85 degrees and the water was not the slightest bit chilly, maybe mid 70s. When I looked around the crowd, there were probably only 3 or 4 people out of 100 without a wetsuit. Why? I personally never swim with a wetsuit and am more of a frigid water swimmer. 2 people who I know who do triathalons always use wetsuits and I once posed the same question to them. They train in what they will wear in the race. The buoyancy is different. Personally I don't like swimming in wetsuits and actually prefer the water below 60 degrees.

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:14:33 GMT

Lake Placid is beautiful. There are also several swims in Lake George this summer. http://www.lakegeorgeswim.com/ Yes. I first had my eye on Lake George. I live only an hour away. But my daughter-in-law has a baby due that week which negates any other plans.

RE: First OWS

Lyn — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 09:06:58 GMT

Lake Placid is beautiful. There are also several swims in Lake George this summer. http://www.lakegeorgeswim.com/ For your first swim, my best advice is to start out mindfully. Unless you're a pool sprinter, don't get caught up in the start, get your breathing and your stroke smooth and easy before pressing for speed. It's easy to end up out of breath in the first few hundred yards. A friend uses the mantra, bubble, bubble, breath but whatever works for you. Caution: open water swimming is highly addictive! You'll know you're hooked when the pool becomes a necessary evil.

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 07:16:40 GMT

Here's the one I want to try. 1 mile OWS, Aug 13 in Lake Placid, NY. I'll need a few more weeks of practice to gain the confidence. www.clubassistant.com/.../meet_information.cfm

RE: First OWS

JanSwim — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:56:36 GMT

Just wait until you get into super clear water where you can see all kinds of things while you're swimming. It's pure heaven. No such thing in New York. Plus, the best lakes are so full of boats, it would be dangerous to go more than 15 yds off shore. Sumorunner Time for a day trip to the Finger Lakes! Crystal clear water, light boat traffic (away from the larger lake shore towns and occasional marina). Such a paradise for OW swimming, but with a few exceptions, not well known in the OWS community. How I wish I lived closer...

RE: First OWS

flystorms — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:51:25 GMT

We have the same problem in TX with all the boaters. We've found that its good to go at about 6:30-7am, swim for an hour or so, then the crazy rednecks start getting on the lake with their boats by about then. Also, we wear bright caps and this buoy to help other people see us. It doesn't interfere with swimming at all. www.swimoutlet.com/.../ And what I meant by clear water is maybe you'll do a race down in the Caribbean or something at some time. You'll really be hooked then. There's a fantastic 3 miler down in St John USVI in May that it's easy to get distracted by all the amazing sights and forget you're trying to race. :)

RE: First OWS

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:39:33 GMT

No such thing in New York. Plus, the best lakes are so full of boats, it would be dangerous to go more than 15 yds off shore.Find a sympathetic kayaker or paddle boarder to accompany you. My wife and sons enjoy this. Welcome to the purest form of swimming!

RE: First OWS

srcoyote — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:23:03 GMT

Congratulations. Your descriptions have the mark of one who is now very much hooked.

RE: First OWS

Sumorunner — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:02:24 GMT

Just wait until you get into super clear water No such thing in New York. Plus, the best lakes are so full of boats, it would be dangerous to go more than 15 yds off shore.

RE: First OWS

flystorms — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 04:44:47 GMT

Yay, it does sound like a good experience so congratulations and welcome to the dark side. :) It's wonderful here! Just wait until you get into super clear water where you can see all kinds of things while you're swimming. It's pure heaven.