MIMS Application Questions

The MIMS 2014 application deadline is approaching on November 1. If you are applying and have questions, feel free to ask them here. Many forum members have been through this process and are willing to help.
Some fine print: Any comments I make here are as a past MIMS swimmer, not as an official representative of NYC Swim.
Some fine print: Any comments I make here are as a past MIMS swimmer, not as an official representative of NYC Swim.
Comments
I am also happy to discuss MIMS.
loneswimmer.com
- Does the medical have to be completed on the NYCSwim form or will a current (i.e. 2013) CS&PF medical suffice?
- Does all medical information have to be submitted online prior to 1st November? I’ve got some quotes for a chest X-Ray and ECG which made my eyes water! I’m reluctant to pay this amount of money in advance of 1st November to then find out that I haven’t got a swim.
- If the answer is “yes” to the above questions, does an additional medical then need to be carried out in the year of the swim?
As I understand it, priority approval is given to completed applications... that includes medical info, crew confirmations, etc.
Incomplete applications will not be approved automatically (as per NYC swim's diversity goals) but will go to the committee for consideration.
...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
My GP practice did the ECG as part of the fee for doing the medical, and I paid BUPA for the Xray (you still need a GP referral), but I can't remember how much I paid, but I remember that it wasn't cheap...you don't get that fluffy changing robe for nothing, it seems.
Kx
I know I used my Catalina medical form from 2010 when I signed up for 2011 MIMS. I didn't have issues.
Or rather if you have been written about.... you can upload a link.
...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
Firstly, please can anyone shed a bit more light on what sort of detail the essay should contain to be successful. The application information doesn't seem to offer much guidance.
Second question relates to swim speed and cut off times. Given the tidal assistance clearly impacting swim times for MIMS, how can I judge whether I have sufficient speed to meet the cut off times? Following on from this, is there a minimum 1500m swim time that would be considered acceptable?
Thanks
My quiet MIMS time was 8.36, I think, and 8.59 during the race, which made me one of the slower swimmers (but still within the cutoff), and my 10k time in open water ranged from 3-3.30 at the time. It's not much to go on...I think I did 1500 in a 50 m pool in about 25 min very soon after MIMS, if I'm remembering correctly. I represent the butt-end of speeds that can make it around.
1. Answer the question
2. succinctly
3. with a focus on things that make you unique from other applicants
4. and with a minimum of generic platitudes.
"Personal statement" is probably a more useful term to describe the intent of this. Put some thought into it, but keep in mind how many of these the committee will be reading.
Don't stress too much over it. Your swimming accomplishments are a more important factor.
- The format of MIMS 2015 has not been decided yet, and that decision is unlikely to occur before NYC Swim is finished with its 2014 slate of events (which still includes the Brooklyn Marathon Swim, Manhattan Island Relays, Statue of Liberty Swim, and Little Red Lighthouse Swim).
- The most likely scenario is that the format will be similar to this year (three swims, aggregated according to speed).
- All MIMS solo aspirants are encouraged to complete (or update) their NYC Swim profile/bio/swim resume at nycswim.org. This will serve you well regardless of the event format.
- All MIMS solo aspirants are encouraged to complete their required one-hour pool swim sooner rather than later. This will also serve you well regardless of the event format.
Once the info on the 2015 schedule & application processes goes live, maybe we can set up a new thread as a clearinghouse for questions & (hopefully) answers.
Does Ederle 2014 count as a qualifying swim ?
Thanks!
I did my 1 hour swim after I was preliminary accepted but it was a short time frame to when it was due.
Per NYC swim only recent official solo crossing of Catalina or 'English Channels (CSPF) are considered "Event" based qualifying swim. The Ederle swim might* qualify under the "Observer Qualifying Swim" Last year an Observer Qualifying Swim had to be at least 4 hours long and at a water temperature at *62F or lower. The water temperature at a Ederle swim may not have been cold enough. Your Ederle swim is probably automatically included your NYC swim profile and I"m guessing it firmly helps your cause in the selection process but may not be considered a qualifying swim. If your preliminary accepted and based on a successful Ederle swim you probably will be, you will have until about April to submit a observed qualifying swim. I'm from Denver so I flew to California last March to do my observed qualifying swim with my swim buddy and observer @Cliff a former resident of the area. The qualifying swim became part of my training plan, I did four days of ocean swimming in the Laguna Beach to Seal Beach area. Met other open water swimmers and really enjoyed my qualifying swim in the coves and rock reefs of Laguna Beach.
The one hour swim is used by NYC Swim to seed you. Who swam on what day in 2014 was largely determined byt the one hour swim results. Normally the 1 hour swims are done as part of the USMS program in January. There is a deadline for submititng your 1 hour results but I don't remember it impacting acceptance. The qualifying swim and/or the medical exams are what usually hold up the final acceptance.
http://www.nycswim.org/About/Contact.aspx
1. Friday, November 21, 2014 8:30 AM (New York Time)
2. Friday, November 21, 2014 5:00 PM (New York Time)
3. Sunday, November 23, 2014 8:30 AM (New York Time)
Please share this. Swimmers can register in advance by clicking the following URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2889553204285486850
...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
The process was a little easier back in the day before the internet and social media exploded.
They are to be recorded but still....
* still searching for that Triple*........
...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
1) Hour long swim mandatory, no one exempt, separate from 4-hour cold water swim, to determine speed requirements. Bare minimum distance is 4300yd or 3950m (-50m in long course pool), which comes out to 1:23/100yd or 1:31/100m.
2) Solos as well as a Race, an Anniversary swim, Ederle swim, and Brooklyn Marathon Swim. The race is on 1Aug2015, anniversary swim on 5Sept2015, Ederle on 9Aug2015, Brooklyn Marathon Swim on 12Sept2015.
3) Paddlers and Observers get monetarily compensated for their time.
4) Prices are higher, for solos MUCH higher. I don't have all these details as it is complicated, but I did take a snapshot of the "matrix"
5) Solo can start from 96th St, Battery, OR Dyckman St. (the original place to start it)
Of the 21 viable swim dates, there are really only 9 viable date groupings of 2 or 3 days - so if there is, for instance a heavy rain.. the swim start will be pushed off to the next date that is part of the grouping.
The bare minimum requirement for the 1 HR distance is only for the Aug Race. Individual Solo swims do not have a minimum requirement.
People can enroll for solo swims through 2019. They can enroll for MIMS record attempts, a reverse circumnavigation or multiple circumnavigations.
Solo swim dates may have 2 or 3 swimmers going on the same date - who will be of a comparable speed.
Swimmers will have a custom model built for their speed and swim history based on the historical, successful circumnavigations... with an optimal start time and the tide predictions at 28 location points around Manhattan - to reduce the swim time and increase the certainty of completing the swim.... if everything goes as predicted.