training for a distance

I concur with you on the distances of training runs for a ‘foot race’ marathon. When in a training cycle for a full marathon I would generally build up to a distance of about 22-24 miles a few weeks before the actual race, and then begin to taper. But, with regard to marathon swims (10k or more), I tend to do more long swims during my build-up, and actually like to do the full race distance at least once…at least ‘weeks’ prior to the actual race. But I’d do pretty much the same with a shorter swim (like your 5-miler).

One of the things that is of more importance to me is doing a long swim (not necessarily actual race distance) in conditions similar to what race conditions will be in the actual event. If the event is in a lake with calm waters, no currents/tides, mostly protected from the wind, etc…then you don’t have much to worry about. But if it will be choppy, wavy, large swells, headwind, tides or currents…then I like to have experienced that going into the event.

Dan

I concur with you on the distances of training runs for a ‘foot race’ marathon. When in a training cycle for a full marathon I would generally build up to a distance of about 22-24 miles a few weeks before the actual race, and then begin to taper. But, with regard to marathon swims (10k or more), I tend to do more long swims during my build-up, and actually like to do the full race distance at least once…at least ‘weeks’ prior to the actual race. But I’d do pretty much the same with a shorter swim (like your 5-miler).

One of the things that is of more importance to me is doing a long swim (not necessarily actual race distance) in conditions similar to what race conditions will be in the actual event. If the event is in a lake with calm waters, no currents/tides, mostly protected from the wind, etc…then you don’t have much to worry about. But if it will be choppy, wavy, large swells, headwind, tides or currents…then I like to have experienced that going into the event.

Dan