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Discussion: Concerns About The Swim!
Subject: Concerns About The Swim! By: Geoff F. Written on: 2006-06-21 08:31:30 Message: I am doing my first sprint tri with a friend this weekend in Phili and the swim leg is alot longer than I have trained for. It is 900 meters. I would be lucky to complete 500 in a smooth continuous swim, but 900 is way out of my league! Does anyone have any advice on how to get through this distance for a weaker swimmer?
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Dave K. Written on: 2006-06-21 10:02:45 Message: if you are going to continue to do tri's and wet suit si allowed, you could wear one. With that on, you literally wil float, so you can take more frequent rest stops without buring energy and tiring out as easily. That being said, you should stay within your limits. If the distance is too far, swap to the du if available, or wait for the next race when you have trained adequately nd you are confident. Last thing to do is get in the water and put yourself in danger.
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Jael A. Written on: 2006-06-21 10:03:30 Message: Geoff, basicly with the swimming...don't worry about looking like you know what you are doing in the water... Just do what you have to do to get through that water! Some people swim on their backs or even doggy paddle it if they think they cannot make it swimming free style. At that point it is all mental... When you start the swimming, get on the side towards the back so that you do not get trumpled by other good swimmers (who will not hesitate to swim over you!), take your time, pace yourself and you will get there when you get there....don't let the visual intimidate you. Distances in the water look humongous when you are out there, and it is only really a swim.... That is what I think about: "just keep your head in the water and keep swimming...it is only a swim, it is only water!". All the best to you! Jael
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Ryan P. Written on: 2006-06-21 10:11:49 Message: Geoff, As Jael and Meagan and anyone else who did the Disney 70.3 in May can attest to, I am perhaps the world's worst swimmer. I've been trying to get better (just read the TI book), but it's been a slow process. The 3 things to remember are: to press the buoy (press your chest out so it lifts up your hips), swim on your side (roll from side to side as you stroke), and make yourself longer (longer boats go faster than shorter ones so stretch that body out and keep it long). Jael's advice is the best- just keep your head down and keep working. If I can "fake" my way through 1.2 miles (and 2.4 this weekend), you can gut out those extra 400 meters. Good luck this weekend! Philly is the motherland! Let us know how you made out.
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Geoff F. Written on: 2006-06-21 10:59:36 Message: Thank you all very much for the advice. I am going to have to see if I can borrow a wet suit from someone! I'm probably going to have to bust out every single swim stroke I know to get through this, freestyle, backstroke, side swim, and what my friend called the "Squid" I'm not sure really what it is but he says it is his last go to swim method that resembles a squid like motion through the water. lol. Ryan, I can't believe you are swimming 2.4 miles that is really incredible. How did you train for that distance? What race are you doing this weekend? Jael, thank you for the advice, I am going ot have to position myself in the back, being in the first wave of Male 25-29 I know there are going to be some elites firing through the water in this one!
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Jael A. Written on: 2006-06-21 11:31:21 Message: Geoff, just a piece of advice about the wetsuit ordeal. If you are not comfortable in the water and you can do without the wetsuit (being that this is your first open water swim) go for it. I DNFed at an Olympic race in April of this year. I had bought a wetsuit the night before the race and was not comfortable using a wetsuit....so...I would say...try to do without... Also, have someone show you how to put the wetsuit on before race time. It is not an easy thing to do. You need to put lots of body glide on before you put on the wetsuit. After the swim, you need to start taking it off as you are running to T1. Spray some Spam cooking spray on it after you have it on...you will be able to have that thing slide off right of you after the swim. Jael
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Timarie K. Written on: 2006-06-21 12:04:53 Message: Geoff- I will be in Philly as well on Sat (if all goes well with the back). I am sure you have been getting all of the emails about the safety/water quality of the Skukill (sp?), and let me just say that I would not step foot in that river without a wet suit. Sure it is fine, but god only knows what's in there. The buyancy, efficiences are just very strong pluses for this race... You have trained and I am sure you'll kick butt....
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Geoff F. Written on: 2006-06-21 13:02:21 Message: Timarie, Look for the guy in a blue top that can't swim, that's me. I did the bike portion over the weekend and it seems ok. The river is not exactly a place I would want to go swimming. My friend did a swim in it the other day and he said it was not that pleasant (not in those words). There was a fishkill there last week but they said everything is okay now. Still a little disturbing. But I think that it will only make everyone swim faster so they can get the hell out of the water as soon as possible. Good luck to you and I hope that your back feels better by race time! It looks like the weather is going to be cooler so maybe that will help a little.
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Carie M. Written on: 2006-06-21 13:41:59 Message: Hey Geoff -- I'm a pretty new swimmer... I was able to double my continuous distance literally overnight by doing intervals -- changing from side glides (w/ head in water) to freestyle, to other side glide, to breast-stroke... you get to rest some muscles while working others (not to mention being able to breathe continuously on the side glides - added bonus). It's super important to keep your head and chest down, even though you will want to pull up, because its a lot harder if you try to swim standing up. Another note, you can take breaks and tread water if you have to... and there will be people on kayaks and bouys out there if you do totally freak out -- but you won't need those. Just remember the race is in your head, keep your cool and you'll do AWESOME. Can't wait to hear how it goes!
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Geoff F. Written on: 2006-06-21 13:53:25 Message: Hey Carie, thank you for the tips! I am going to give those intervals a try the next time I am in the pool. That's really the problem I have is that I have to stop so much just to catch my breath and let my arms relax a little. I am definately going to have to whip out the side glide for the race. I know my friend will be too so we'll be gliding together!
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Michelle R. Written on: 2006-06-21 13:58:04 Message: My first (and only so far) sprint tri I swam a combo of crawl (only a little), breast stroke, side-stroke, and back stroke (minus the arms). Of course, I didn't care so much about time, I just wanted out of the water and I hadn't really trained for the swim at all. Also, I liked being able to see where I was going! And even doing all that, I didn't come out of the water last.
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Geoff F. Written on: 2006-06-21 14:03:18 Message: Can anyone advise on what to wear for the race? I have a pair of bike shorts but I understand it's probably not the best idea to swim with them. Other than that I really don't have much besides a pair of spandex. I'd like to not have to worry much about putting on and pulling on gear.
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Erik T. Written on: 2006-06-21 17:06:33 Message: My guess would be that you're perfectly able to swim that distance, but having not done it you're probably worried. The way to deal with that is simply to get into a safe environment (like a pool) and do it. I'm doing my first Oly this weekend --Pacific Crest in Oregon-- and I've been swimming 2400-3000 meters straight with the idea that a 1500 will seem easy. You're a little close to the race to do a lot of that, but it might be worth 25 minutes in a pool just to boost your own confidence. Failing that, there's no harm in a little backstroke or breaststroke out there just to get you through. As far as what to wear, get yourself a good pair of tri shorts, their designed to swim and bike without chafing. Also I'd skip the top if you're not going to wear a wetsuit over it. Any loose clothing makes me feel like I'm gonna drown, and I'm a pretty darn good swimmer. You can always put on your shirt (with number already attached) at T1. Good luck! erik
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Patrick B. Written on: 2006-06-21 18:13:21 Message: my first tri was 1000 yds, the farthest I had EVER swam was 300 yds, and i felt like i could die after that, I laid on my back, breast stroked, freestyled, doggy paddled, drifted, whatever it took, I was the 2nd to last person to get out of the water, I had the boat come by multiple times to see if I was drowning, but I got out, then I got out, I felt like i was going to throw up and fall over. But I didn't i got on my bike and started riding and then I passed my first person, after that, it was no problem. You can make it, if you push it hard enough the body will respond.
Subject: RE: Concerns About The Swim! By: Patrick B. Written on: 2006-06-21 18:14:33 Message: almost forgot, that was by far the most fun I have ever had, you couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks to come, heck I'm smiling right now just thinking about it.
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