Open Water Training and Technique - Recent Threads

best open water goggles

lbswims — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:11:49 GMT

What are the best open water goggles and why?

20 Bridges Swim / Manhattan write-up

aztimm — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:55:47 GMT

Thought I'd share some of my thoughts on my recent tandem 20 Bridges Swim / Manhattan.

Firstly, what is a tandem swim? For NYOW it involves 2 swimmers, roughly the same speed, and they have to remain within 5 meters of each other. Sure, it is ok during some rough patches for that to be a bit squishy, but most of the time we were next to each other.

As someone who picked up swimming as an adult, I've always been fascinated by the thought of swimming the English Channel. However, a good friend of mine, someone I train with, did it 2 years ago, and after following her swim (both the tracker and WhatsApp group), I didn't think I wanted to swim for nearly 15 hours. She swam it in 14:45. But that didn't mean I had to give up entirely...there are tons of great open water events, both around the US and the globe.

I studied a few of the swims, looked up the success rate, the prices (these swims can get pretty pricey), and I settled on 20 Bridges. I know many people who have done it, I know the event organizers, and after I finished my Finger Lakes swim (12 miles) a few years ago, someone told me I was ready. I just didn't think I was then. I got a few more big swims under my belt, the Portland Bridge Swim and the Kingdom 10 miler, and I decided to apply this year. You apply in January, write up a brief bio, submit an hour timed swim, and select your top 3 preferred dates. Doing it tandem brings the price down substantially, so I found someone for that. The swim is about 28 to 29 miles, but with MAJOR current assist.

About a month later, I received the, "Congratulations," email, and they had assigned me to my #1 date, Sep 20. I preferred a daytime swim (I've done some night swims, and I'm sure it is fine, it just wasn't my preference). I also wanted the water warm but not too warm... As it turned out, the water (as the SCAR event organizer always says) was PERFECT!

NYOW organizes a group call (in May), and keeps their website updated with any changes. Somewhere in mid-August, I received an email with more information, that the start would be at Mill Rock (I had expected Battery Park), but that worked out for the best. The folks at NYOW have years of experience doing this, and they give swimmers the best conditions they possibly can. Then about a week before the swim, I received even more details, with start time, estimated times at key checkpoints, and overall finish time. While I was flattered that they thought I could finish in 8 hours 10 minutes, I was quite surprised and thought it was a bit aggressive. As it turned out, it was very close.

Saturday, September 20 was quite an epic day for me.

I finished the 20 Bridges Swim / Swim around Manhattan. This was a tandem swim with a swimmer friend, Jeff Campbell, and we train together regularly in Lake Austin on weekends.The day started early, to catch an Uber from Brooklyn into the city to meet the boats at the North Cove Marina at 8am, then off on the boats to the start of 20 Bridges.

The water at Mill Rock (near Gracie Mansion), our entry point, was a bit turbulent, so I cautiously jumped in, swam to my kayaker, and we were set off. Before I knew it, we were cruising along in the Harlem River, saw the big C (for Columbia University) near the end, and into the Hudson. While there were many bridges over the Harlem River, there is only one over the Hudson, the George Washington Bridge. We both swam backstroke under that bridge. There were several points where things got tough; the lower Hudson and around the Battery was a bear. At some point our kayakers told us, “Look to the right to see the Statue of Liberty,” but we were facing some 4-5 foot swells, which made it difficult to see much of anything. The East River was challenging, but it pushed us so fast; we were holding about a 20 minute per mile pace (my pace in the local lake is almost twice that). While stopped for a feed between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, I remember how far we were pushed (in the right direction) in just a short time. Before i knew it we were at Roosevelt Island, and I could see the United Nations Building, then we cruised up to our finish, where we started, at Mill Rock. I was expecting the boat to blow the horn or something, so I continued on, until my kayaker came and asked me, “Are you up for another lap?” To which I replied, “Absolutely not!”

No watches or other devices are allowed. Just a cap, goggles, and swimsuit. We had feeds about every 30 minutes (very quick breaks, maybe a minute or 2 max), and I mostly kept track of time by feeds (together with the sun). There is a HUGE clock in New Jersey across from where we caught the boat (the North Cove Marina), and it was 4pm when we reached it. I did get some small stings from sea lice, but nothing worth being too worried about.

We finished in 8 hours 15 minutes (and change), which is a respectable time. Some people set records under 6 hours, but others might take over 11 hours.

Special thanks to Jeff’s wife, Amy Campbell, our support person on the boat, and to David Barra, who kayaked for me. We had a WhatsApp group for friends near and far to follow along, and Amy provided many real-time pictures and videos to keep them updated. She also relayed messages to us during our feed breaks (plus made sure feeds were ready to transfer to our kayakers, so they could give them to us directly).

In addition to our tandem team, there were 2 others doing solo swims on the same day. It was great to meet them both, and it was so nice to see them waiting for us when we arrived back at the cove after.

Thank you to New York Open Water for putting on these events, making them happen, and keeping all of us safe!

Now to plan the next adventure…

Feel free to ask any questions, and I'll be happy to answer as best I can. I have TONS of pictures, but I'm not sure these forums allow me to upload them.

5 mile swim workout plan

VVT5M — Sat, 17 May 2025 16:38:53 GMT

Hi….I’m doing a 5 mile open water swim in St Croix in Nov. I’ve previously done a 4K open water event (took me 1:39) but this is my first attempt at this distance. Can anyone recommend a training plan? I have a good base now and I’m in generally good shape. Middle of the pack ability level. Any help is much appreciated!

Lake Garda Italy open water swimming

09XJU — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:51:14 GMT

We are headed to Lake Garda Italy this summer. We would like to swim about 2k/day in the lake. Does anyone know of a group that swims the lake where we can join in? Not sure if we can swim on our own or need a guide boat. Also wondering which section of the lake is best for this.

Kona - Open water swimming

03FA9 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 01:48:23 GMT

Hi,

Headed to Kona, staying at the Mauna Lani. I'm looking for a pod to swim with. I'm experienced and usually swim 4k in my workouts. Leads?

Scott

Open Water Coaching Certification Program + Virtual Clinic Led by Triple Crowner & Marathon Swimming Coach Craig Lewin

03ZEB — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:49:45 GMT

https://www.openwaterswimming.com/wowsa-open-water.../

October 15, 2024 – November 5, 2024

(Sessions will be recorded)

Join us for an immersive Open Water Coaching Certification Program + Virtual Clinic led by Channel Swimming Association Approved Coach and marathon swimming expert, Craig Lewin. For coaches, swimmers and organizers creating safe and practical experiences for swimmers in open water.

Each week Craig will focus on topics relevant to the online curriculum, and also brings the material to life with hard-earned lessons from his esteemed coaching and swimming career, with a specific emphasis on marathon swimming.

Program Highlights:

Access a comprehensive online course at your own pace, tailored to fit your schedule.
Join weekly webinars and discussions led by Craig Lewin, covering essential topics for open water coaching.
ASCA members will earn 12 continuing education credits for ASCA Level 3-5 certification.

Craig’s expertise and passion for coaching will inspire and prepare you for any open water challenge you take on.

Training for my First open water (ocean) mile swim. Any tips?

U4HDM — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:53:46 GMT

I am a seasoned swimmer, but I'm used to the pool. I'm training for my first open water (ocean) swim; I welcome any advice anyone has. I'm nervous, but this is on my bucket list, so I'm also excited to try something different.

Yet another Great Chesapeake Bay Swim thread (newbie)

FUJ9A — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 14:33:36 GMT

Hi all. I have read several threads/blogs on the Internet (marathon swimming forums, slowtwitch), related to Great Chesapeake Bay Swim. And will plow through the old ones here.

Just starting my own, in case anyone has kind-to-newbie advice.

TLDR background:

I'm a smooth but slow freestyler. Never been on a swim team (at all). Signed up for the GCBS and "won" the lottery. I am qualified (barely). Requires a 40 minute open water 1500m swim. And I turned a 38+ minute lake swim as part of a triathlon last summer.

Want to build my distance speed so that I can complete the GCBS without getting yanked. I've read about "the current in the shipping channel" and "the pier of shame" for people who get pulled for not being fast enough.

Not that freaked out by the distance or the open water. I mean sure...they are absolutely non-trivial. But still, once you're in the soup, you just swim. I did several 5000m (continuous) pool swims over the holidays. Tolerated it OK although goggles start hurting after an hour. Definitely concerned about my pace though. FWIW, I seem to swim faster in open water than the pool. Despite sighting and all that. Or maybe it was the race. Hoping GCBS is easier for sighting...but presumably will be worse for waves and current.

Have a bum right shoulder (skiing dislocation, operation, dislocated again). Very surprised I can tolerate swimming, but so far so good. Been doing 2-5K since last summer. No sprints, just down and back.

P.s. Completely new to Masters (signed up today). Going to look into my local group. And maybe a rec center private coach (seems quite reasonable).

P.s.s. Also doing some running and biking (pretty light, knees bad too...but building up). In between jobs so lots of time, but will need to reduce volume if I get staffed.

P.s.s.s. I'm not using a wetsuit. Speedo city.

Bare feet on sharp wrack line

ForceDJ — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:57:45 GMT

There’s something that has my curiosity when I go for a swim at my neighborhood beach. It’s a salt water beach in Rhode Island along Narragansett Bay’s Sakonnet Passage/River. We’re allowed to drive right onto the beach and park. The beach consists of mostly gravely sand, and a lot of broken shells along the wrack line. When I walk barefoot across that gravel and shells walking to the water to begin my swim…it’s almost like walking on broken glass. It genuinely hurts my bare feet to walk across it. But then, after an hour or more of swimming, when I exit the water to walk back to my car, it’s almost unnoticeable. The only thing I can figure is that the skin on the soles of my feet becomes softened from being in the water, and more pliable. But you’d think just the opposite would happen, and the dry, toughened soles would form a more resistant barrier.

Dan

training for a distance

Scott Seibert — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 02:18:45 GMT

So, I know for marathons and some other long distance events you don't actually run the distance during training. At least if your goal is just to finish. So what is it for swimming? I'm doing a 5 mile swim in August. Do I need to do several 5 mile swims prior to this event? I have no illusions of finishing top half or even top of my age group or anything. I'd like to not be the last finisher though. So, I'll repeat myself, during training do I need to have swum 5 miles prior to the actual event?

Sorry if this is kind of gross, but what about bathroom during OW events?

Scott Seibert — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:16:16 GMT

So I've got several open water events this summer. The last time I did an open water event. it was a 5 mile swim, so 2.5-3 hours in the water. The question I have is...excuse me.. but what if I need to have a bowel movement during the swim? Or do you guys do something to avoid needing a bowel movement? IDK a laxative the day before to clean yourselves out? It was really distracting during my last event.

Any suggestions would be appreciated..

Thanks.

Trouble breathing at OW swim start

Cmonster — Mon, 15 May 2023 12:17:48 GMT

I can't be the only person with this issue. About 2 minutes into an open water start I experience extreme difficulty breathing. I go into extreme anxiety/panic to the point that I have to stop and tread water to calm down. This has been occurring more frequently in the pool as well even to a point where I have to get out for the day. Most of the time it will go away after 10 minutes depending on how persistent I am but I feel there is a relative level of danger when this is occurring. It doesn't matter what the water temp is, it will happen in a race even after I'm warmed up, pre-workout/caffeine made it worse (don't take it anymore), and I am almost guaranteed it will happen in an OW race. I am an experienced swimmer of 40 years, competitive my entire life, and this just started in 2014. I was out of the water from 2016- December 22.

At this point I don't know what to do. My primary care shrugs his shoulders like an idiot and says "well don't swim". This can't be sipe because it goes away while I am still swimming and I definitely wouldn't be able to forge through this many occurrences. It's beyond frustrating. I swam an OW race last weekend that lasted 1hr 40 min. From 6 minutes to 16 minutes I fought this to a point that I was feeling on the edge of a medical emergency. 16 minutes!! I completely removed myself from any chance of competing, I can't make that time up. The anxiety surrounding it was so bad I even put my life in order and had everything set up for my family in case something happened.

What are others experiencing with this? How do we get over it? Swimming is my only outlet so I need to find a solution.

Swim skins

0A5PN — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 14:57:12 GMT

I'm going to be swimming in Greece in the Aegean Sea in June, and doing a river race in MD this May. I'm not interested in speed - but protection from sea lice, jelly fish (not likely this time of year) and anything else that might be in my vicinity. I was planning to swim the May race with a sleeveless wet suit - I purchased a long sleeve one for Greece, but now I see that the water temps may be too warm for a wet suit so I am looking at swim skins.

My question- for swimming 1.5-2 miles in the morning and afternoon, considering comfort and bio needs- would you recommend a swim skin that is sleeveless and short legged (up to knee) - or a full body long sleeve, long leg pant? And any recommendations of lower cost options/locations to consider?

Thanks -

Open Water Category 1 swimsuit rule

PhyllisQuinn — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 15:51:58 GMT

Rule 303.4.2B Interpretation

The USMS Long Distance Committee (LDC) is issuing a clarification on Rule 303.4.2B (for Rule text, see below).

The rule as written states that zippers and clasps are not allowed. There are several brands of women’s swimsuits that include a tie on the back. It is the interpretation of the LDC that these swimsuits are legal for open water competitions, until a clarification or edit to this rule is recommended by the LDC and approved by the House of Delegates.

(Please note these swimsuits with a tie are not legal for pool competition according to Rule 102.12.2D: “Only swimsuits complying with FINA swimsuits specifications may be worn in any USMS sanctioned or recognized competition. Note: FINA specifications prohibit any zipper, ties, or any other fastener systems with the exception of a waist tie.”)

New to open water

Kay — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:13:22 GMT

Just signed up for my first open water event (5K) and wondering if anyone has tips on what to focus on while training in an indoor pool! I have about 5 months until the race but I'm in Chicago so it will be a while until I can train in the lake. I've heard higher stroke count and more pull sets but would appreciate any other advice of how to best structure my sets until I can get in the lake!

Goggles

E7RTM — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 21:34:36 GMT

It seems it's been a while on here since people have talked about their favorite goggles for:

Open Water Swimming
Pool Swimming

Longer unescorted swim races?

05YT0 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 13:55:36 GMT

Does anyone know of some long (10km+) open water races where you don’t have a boat/escort for each individual? I’ve done a few like this including the Swim with a Mission in NH and am interested in finding more. Obviously there will still be safety boats, etc around the course, but looking for longer races that don’t require an escort for each swimmer.

Open water stroke dq?

SNXW2 — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:25:25 GMT

Hi! I'm swimming my 1st open water event but unfortunately injured my shoulder in my last meet. I can swim about 500 m freestyle before it starts to twinge. My plan is to kick most of the 2.5 k and alternate with short swims of freestyle. Will this result in a DQ?

Workouts, tips, tricks for Waikiki rough water swim?

olegmeister — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 05:43:38 GMT

Just like it says...

I'm swimming this race for the first time and I'm looking for some advice. Can I ask:

1. How did you train?

2. What worked for you?

3. What do you wish you hadn't done / didn't happen in your previous swim?

Thanks yall!

1500m training plan and key workouts?

0AE53 — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 13:58:22 GMT

I am at a bit of a loss on how to structure a training plan for the 1500m OW event. In particular, how to start building speed at that distance. Does anyone have an outline of a 24-week training plan along with some key workouts for the speed phase?

Swimming

8VXN4 — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:58:57 GMT

Hello!

What are the open swimming locations in the Atlanta area?

wetsuits

annemw — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 23:22:11 GMT

Hi all,

Hope everyone got wet today!

Am planning a Swimtrek to the Galapagos in Feb. 2022. I need to purchase a wetsuit - 3mm torso/2 mm limbs should be enough thickness, full suit, not shortie, for a female. Can I please get some recommendations for brands and styles to look at? Willing to spend max of $500. Of course, want super flexibility, no water leakage, relatively easy to get on/off.

Thank you, in advance.

Anne

Eco-friendly Wetsuits

Anne Henochowicz — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:35:44 GMT

Are there any wetsuits for open water swimming made from Yulex (a patented type of rubber) or other non-petroleum-based materials? I've seen lots of Yulex suits for surfing, and would rather not buy Neoprene (unless Neoprene isn't as terrible as I am lead to believe). I'm considering getting a sleeveless Patagonia suit, on the assumption that I need the mobility in my arms, while my legs can "surf" along behind. Thanks for your advice!

Why is the pool harder than the ocean??

TKMW3 — Sat, 29 May 2021 16:40:31 GMT

Hi all!

63 year old male swimmer in Laguna Beach here. Question for the group.

I swam this whole last winter in the ocean no wetsuit averaging 3 swims a week of between 1-2 miles each. According to my Apple Watch I was on a 1:40-1:50 pace for my 100’s.

wanting to diversify I jumped in our local pool the other day and thought I’d knock out a quick 3,000 yards and was absolutely gassed after swimming the first 200...

I have been swimming for 55 years-Age group, high school, college, ocean lifeguard.

why so much harder in the pool than the ocean?

thanks!!

Swimming Inspired Designs

Former Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 17:22:01 GMT

Hi I created these designs for our Openwater Swim Tribe. Perhaps others will enjoy them to? www.zazzle.com/.../eish_waves-119683774275274984