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  • Dr_JDr_J Member

    Hi All...I started swimming laps in the pool about 5 years ago to train for a tri. I realized I liked swimming a lot and have kept up with a tri/master's swimming group. I started extending my open water swim lengths and for the past two years have done the 6 mile Kingdom swim. I'm signed up for it again this year. As I'm a slow swimmer, I'm not feeling ready to jump to the 10 mile swim there, but at some point in might be fun to try a 7-8 mile swim.

    IronMikeNoelFigarttortugaevmoLeslieJbetley
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    edited April 2016

    Dr_J said:
    As I'm a slow swimmer, I'm not feeling ready to jump to the 10 mile swim there, but at some point in might be fun to try a 7-8 mile swim.

    Welcome, @Dr_J! We have a sub-club here at MSF for all of us adult-onset swimmers, here.

    The only thing that stops us adult-onset/slow swimmers is course time limits, damn them!

    NoelFigartrosemarymintwendyv34tortugaVLM

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • rkaveskirkaveski Sao Paulo, Brazil Member

    Reader for a few months, first post now. I'm Rodrigo from Sao Paulo, Brazil, I swim for 2 years and my biggest swim was Ilhabela Channel 4 km. I'm an ultra runner and long distance cyclist (randonneur). Eventually, I travel to US - Florida and California - and I'm looking for some water marathons to join. Hope to see you swimming here sometime.

    SoloIronMikeNoelFigartKate_AlexandertortugaevmoLeslieloneswimmerJbetley
  • Hi all. I'm a lifelong swimmer, now enjoying the longer stuff. 14k is my longest event so far, but am looking to go longer. A couple of 10k's this year and hopefully Windermere
    I completed the 2swim4life last year as a solo

    LeslieJbetley
  • LeslieLeslie TexasMember

    2swim4life????? Googling now.

    SidMott said:
    Hi all. I'm a lifelong swimmer, now enjoying the longer stuff. 14k is my longest event so far, but am looking to go longer. A couple of 10k's this year and hopefully Windermere
    I completed the 2swim4life last year as a solo

  • http://2swim4life.com/

    Leslie said:
    2swim4life????? Googling now.

    SidMott said:
    Hi all. I'm a lifelong swimmer, now enjoying the longer stuff. 14k is my longest event so far, but am looking to go longer. A couple of 10k's this year and hopefully Windermere
    I completed the 2swim4life last year as a solo

  • NikkiNikki Member

    Hello to everyone. I realize I'm a new member and haven't properly introduced myself yet. I love OW Swimming! My one downfall is that I get cold, so I need Los Angeles-style ocean temps and on up. Unfortunately I live in NorCal, where it's not that warm except for September-October. My big commitment this year is training for the 20K around Key West, and then after that the Semana Nautica (what is it - 7 miles?) in Santa Barbara in July. I'd love to do Rotness (?) in Perth someday. Now I swim at the College of San Mateo pool, which is pretty nice for the sun rises, open lanes and friendly folks that swim, guard and coach there. I grew up swimming in Palos Verdes and swam the Rat Beach - Manhattan Beach loop ... as well as competition swimming through high school. So, anyhow, that's me. I love visiting this site for all of the experts that hang out here and share their amazing experience with the rest of us. Thank you for your generosity :)

    I have a question that I'll post here and hope someone can direct me to the right thread. Where can I find out more about hiring an expert to help me organize a relay swim (nothing too serious) in the Florida region? It will be for an organization called LUNGevity to raise awareness of lung cancer. I have a few swimmers interested in joining me and now need someone who I can pay to help figure out the timing, the tides, etc. Thanks!

    evmotortugaIronMikeSoloJbetley
  • JenAJenA Charter Member
    edited May 2016

    @Nikki: although I've never met him, I suspect Randy Nutt would be an excellent person to contact.

    Randy Nutt Serves Swimming in So Many Ways - Organizes popular open water swims
    http://www.usms.org/articles/articledisplay.php?aid=1550

    http://randynutt.com
    http://randynutt.com/aqua-moon/

  • NikkiNikki Member

    @JenA Thanks for the input Jen.

    JenA
  • KatKat Member
    edited May 2016

    Hey All,

    I'm Kat and here's a little bit about my story. I grew up in Southern California with a swimming family, age group swimming and all that jazz. By the time I was in high school, I was morphing into a long distance swimmers with the 800/1000 being my speciality. Due to health reasons that have been resolved, I had to quit competitive swimming at about 17 just when I was finally getting pretty good. It was a big blog; I didn't realize just how much it effected me or how much I let it hold me back in my health and fitness. For years, I continued to be around swimming but always I thought I'll never be as fast as I was.

    Fast forward, ten years later I've decided that I'm not going to let goals I couldn't make as a 17 year old continue to hold me back. I have a long way to go before I'm a marathon swimmer. Right now, I'm just trying to get healthy. After several failed attempts at running, it become obvious that to get healthy I need to do something I love: swimming.

    I'm planning to swim a 2 mile lake cable swim at the end of June. Summer of 2017, I have my sights set on the Portland Bridge Swim (11 miles in the Willamette River). After that, maybe save my pennies up for Bermuda!

    Through googling open water swimming topics and workouts, I found this awesome forum. I've already found such a wealth of information. Thanks to all the commentators and moderators; you guys rock! I hope to officially join your ranks as a true marathon swimmer in the near future. Here's to new goals and not letting my past hold me back!

    evmoj9swimNoelFigartJenATheoFlowSwimmerstortugaIronMikerlm
  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member

    Hi Kat- Are you in Oregon? I'm guessing because the cable swim you mentioned might be Foster Lake. I went last year and it was a blast, but sadly, I can't make it this year.

    If you can swing it, try the Cascade Lakes Swim Festival in Bend. It's a ton of fun; swimming, camping with swimmers, eating, swimming...lots of nice people and good energy. I go every year. http://www.comaswim.org/cascade_lakes/about.htm

    FlowSwimmers

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • SwimmerSwimmer Member

    Hello from Reno, NV (my "home" for now)! I'm Rebecca.

    I started as a pool sprinter at age 7, until age 17. After a 17-year break, I'm back to Masters swimming and hopefully adding open water and marathon swimming.

    I signed up for Lake Berryessa, CA on 4 June, doing the 1mile and 2mile - my first open water events! I hope to get into the Donner Lake 2.7mile swim in August, and maybe a 5K somewhere this year! I will also work on a 10K pool swim this fall and maybe graduate that to open water next year.

    I love this forum and respect you all for your achievements and advice, and fun and welcoming attitude. I'm learning so much - thanks for sharing all that you do!

    Best,
    Rebecca

    evmotortugaChrisgreeneSoloIronMikerlm

    "Not all who wander are lost." --J.R.R. Tolkien

  • Howdy from Juno Beach, Florida!

    I am an adult onset swimmer who started exercising for the first time ever at age 31 and started triathlons at age 32. As time has gone by (I am now 47), I have gotten more and more enthusiastic about all aspects of endurance fitness, to the extent that it now kinda drives all aspects of my life outside of time with my family.

    For the first few years of my triathlon career, I swam a few times a week (<8k yd) and like many, I just kind of survived the swim. Most of my ironman swims were in the 1:05 - 1:10 range (1:35+/-ish/100 yd). After a knee injury two years ago, I started swimming more and more, and (not surprisingly) my pool times dropped quickly. The more comfortable I became in the water and the faster I got, the more fun it was, and so the more I swam. For the past 5 years or so, I've been swimming 3-4x per week and probably 10-15k average. For the past 2 years, I've probably averaged closer to 15-20k per week. Gradually, I became a decent (pool) swimmer FOR A TRIATHLETE. My coach is a former olympian (200 IM and 400 IM), so I stay VERY HUMBLE in the water for sure.

    Anyway, now I really like swimming. However, although my pool times have dropped considerably, my open water times haven't really changed much. I am uncomfortable in groups, I struggle in choppy water, I get nauseous, I swim SLOWER in a wetsuit...it really is no picnic to race when I like swimming in the pool so much.

    So what to do? Well, I live near the beach, so I've started swimming in the ocean as often as possible. From where I get in, there is a pier that is a 5k round trip. I really like just getting out there and having a goal without being stressed about time or placement.

    About a week ago, I was noodling on something fun to do this fall and I landed on the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse in September and signed up for the solo 9 miles. Since then, I have been virtually incapacitated with excitement! I've checked out all the race reports and youtube videos I can find, I've started reading threads on this forum and I've discussed the training plan with my coach. I am not stressed about doing the yardage or the time in the water (though I am respectful that it will be difficult), but I need to solve the nausea issue. I will swim open water at least 2x per week, so I should have plenty of time to experiment with ear plugs, ginger, etc.

    Most importantly, lest you think that ALL triathletes are complete tools (I saw that thread), let me say that what excites me most about this planned swim (and others), is that I am doing it entirely FOR FUN! Now, when the sharks and jellies and wind chop show up, maybe it will be less fun, but for now, I am just super excited about swimming for the sake of swimming. No stress about time or placement. No stress about what happens after the swim. No stress about anything other than that the post swim beer is cold.

    Thanks for hosting this forum. I have already checked out lots of the information, and it is incredibly helpful for a newbie.

    Cheers,

    Steve

    evmoSpacemanspiffSolotortugaChrisgreenerlmbluemermaid9Jbetley
  • SpacemanspiffSpacemanspiff Dallas, TexasSenior Member

    @SimpleStevie not bad for a triathlete... Good luck with your first marathon swim. Looks like you picked a good one!

    Chrisgreene

    "Lights go out and I can't be saved
    Tides that I tried to swim against
    Have brought be down upon my knees
    Oh I beg, I beg and plead..."

  • EllisEllis Baltimore, MarylandMember

    Greetings from the Chesapeake Bay.

    I'm an old guy (66) who has enjoyed swimming all my life. I started as an open water swimmer at age 5 in Gerrittsen Beach, Brooklyn. Moved on to pools as a High School swimmer (Brooklyn Tech '68) and tried but failed to make the cut as a Navy Swimmer (USNA '72). I returned to swimming through triathlons in my 30s based on the opportunity to swim in open water. I've done the Chesapeake Bay Bridge swim in '88, '89, and 2004; and Alcatraz in 1995.

    Over the past ten years, I've focused on open water swimming with fewer and fewer triathlons. I travel often to San Diego and swim at the La Jolla Cove at every opportunity. I've done the Rough Water swim twice and look forward to doing the 3 mile Gatorman once the Pinniped poop problem is resolved.

    I was very lucky to link up with a group a very serious open water and marathon swimmers who swim in the Chesapeake Bay evry morning, May-October. The group includes very accomplished swimmers who look out for the new (or old, or slow) guys.

    My goal for 2016 is my first 10K, the Round the Sound swim in Bermuda this fall. It's great to have a forum like this to share my interests, and be inspired by yours.

    evmoChrisgreeneswimrn62JenAtortugabluemermaid9Jbetley
  • swimrn62swimrn62 Stowe, VTSenior Member

    Bermuda was my first 10K, it's a perfect first. I'll be back, say hello, I'll be coming in at the back of the pack with a big smile on my face.

    NoelFigart
  • chatter97chatter97 Atlanta GAMember

    Previous to 2012 I was a devout couch potato, weighing in over 365 pounds. Initially I started with running, but graduated to triathlons. To compete in my first triathlons I taught myself how to swim using Total Immersion and later the couch to one mile swim program. After a few years of running olympic and sprint distance triathlons I graduated to half marathons and eventually ultra distance running races.

    Last year I focussed the year on runnning, completing 6+ 50ks, 2 12 hour races, a 24 hour race for 55 miles and a 50 mile race. Unfotunately, I ran into a pinch nerve in my lumbar and had to hold up on running by the years end. I felt I needed a goal for 2016 and realized I could swim with minimal pain. By the end of January I signed up for a 5k in North Georgia in July and a 2.4 mile swim race in June.

    I just finished the 2.4 Chattanooga Rat Race and I am now looking towards next months 5k. Based on recent experiences, I have caught the distance bug and want to push further, possibly trying a 9-10 mile swimming race. That has brought me here.

    evmoSolothelittlemerwookieIronMikeJenAmjstaplesChrisgreenetortugaJbetley
  • VLMVLM Heredia, Costa RicaMember

    Hi, I am Vicky Miller, age 60 and live in Costa Rica. I swam Masters in the past but only in January did I set out to train for and swim an open water 1500m. I have swum 2 and my third is coming up in a few weeks. My real goal is to swim the 14k Golfo Dulce Crossing in Sept 2017. I have been training alone up to now but am looking for a coach and team not too far from me. I will be in Sausalito in July and am looking forward to swimming in the bay with her. Water here is above 80F so it will be different!

    ChrisBJenAchatter97IronMiketortugaJbetley

    "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”
    Antoine de Saint-Exupery

  • curlycurly Issaquah, WASenior Member

    Hi, I just registered. I've been a swimmer since I was 9. Youth, high school, college, slacker, masters and now independent. I learned that I liked distance swimming when I was in high school. Coach put me in the 500 because I was late for a meet. (500 as punishment, don't you just love it...) I went out and broke the school and pool record just to spite him. That's when I found I liked the mental aspect of swimming longer distances. Plus I was never a big fan of tough guy coaches.

    I think I am following a path blazed by many of you. I did a triathlon relay with some friends. Really enjoyed racing in a lake, it was completely different than anything I had ever experienced. Did a few 1 mile OWS's randomly. Got a little better at pacing and actually tried to train a bit for the distance. Last year did a fun swim across Lake Washington, which was an absolute blast. I wanted to do a turn and go back across.

    So it seemed to me that maybe I should try something longer. I signed up for the Fat Salmon Swim for this July. I had to up the yardage from my typically flaky 2K a day to a more substantial 5K a day. Today I swam a 5K straight just to see how it would go. I did pretty good for an old guy. Coincidentally I'm turning 60 this July, so the swim will be a neat way to celebrate the fact that I'm not dead yet. And, based on the commentary on this forum, it appears to me that it is inevitable that I will decide that a 10K seems like the next logical thing to do. Then 25K, then.....

    I also signed up for this forum because I notice that there are a few swimmers in my area that I would enjoy making contact with. Swimming off Alki is still a little too cold for me. I swim skinny (and I am skinny) so those low temperatures wipe me out. But I have been doing a little Lake Sammamish and plan to do more especially once we get over 65 F.

    Thanks for all of your stories, advice and inspiration.

    evmoSoloIronMiketortugaJbetley
  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member

    Hi Curly,

    As a kid, I used to spend nearly every summer day at Lake Sammamish. My first official OWS was there, sponsored by IST. We jumped off a boat and swam (time trial style) up the slough to Marymoor park. Being 10, I was grossed out by the milfoil. ;) I'm out on Vashon Island now, where the water in the harbor is usually a bit warmer than Alki.

    If you enjoy Fat Salmon, (get bitten by the 5K bug), the Aly Fell Memorial swim is 8/13 at Lake Padden in B-ham and has 2.5, 5 & 10K distances. I won't be at FS, (going to Applegate Lk. for 10K Nats that weekend) but I'm at most of the other swims in the area.

    Hopefully we'll bump into each other, on land of course, not in the water. I've got a prominent dolphin tattoo on my left forearm (among many others), so I'm recognizable with dry hair, LOL! If you ever make it out to Colman Pool at Lincoln Park, I manage it, so stick your head in the office and say hi.

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • curlycurly Issaquah, WASenior Member

    Hi Wendy,

    I may have to check out that Aly Fell Swim. I get out to Coleman Pool every so often. (One of my favorite pools that I have swum in.) I will look you up next time I get out that way. Did you swim the entire length of Lake Sammamish? I think I would like to try that sometime.

  • mjstaplesmjstaples Atlanta, GA, USSenior Member

    @chatter97 welcome! There are a few of us here in the Atlanta area. The ridges is a great swim, really hope to be there in July also. If you are looking for any ows people to train with just give me a yell.

    Chrisgreenechatter97
  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member

    Nope, I never swam the entire length of Sammamish. I was a kid and had no idea how far I could swim. We did a 1650 time trial that year as well; I remember stopping to ask "am I done yet?" a few times, because I couldn't wrap my head around how long it was going to take.

    My friend and I swam an over and back of Lake Kachess, (up at Snoqualmie Pass), when we were 13. That was the coldest water I'd ever swam in (colder than the coastal beaches) and neither of us felt very well for the rest of the day. We just figured it looked like a swimmable distance and we were on swim team, so why wouldn't we be able to swim it? ;)

    chatter97

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • chatter97chatter97 Atlanta GAMember

    mjstaples said:
    @chatter97 welcome! There are a few of us here in the Atlanta area. The ridges is a great swim, really hope to be there in July also. If you are looking for any ows people to train with just give me a yell.

    If you have experience.... I could definately use some tips. Allready looking to enlist for a 9+ or so miler next year. Right now the wife and Kayak is taking up my training time, trying to figure this escort swimming thing out. Great to know there are a few Atlantans here. :)

    mjstaplesFlowSwimmers
  • kejoycekejoyce New EnglandSenior Member

    I've been lurking for a few months, but I finally decided I had something to contribute so I'll introduce myself to those of you I don't know in person :)

    Hi! I'm Kellie. I was a pool swimmer through college, then a cyclist, then a triathlete, and now I mostly just swim because running is the worst and it's turrrrifying to cycle in Boston. And because swimming is the best, duh.

    I live just south of Boston and swim at L street and in Nahant. I'm from Maine and swim in Casco Bay whenever physically possible. I'm working on swimming longer and farther and colder, cause I think pushing boundaries is fun. As long as there are no jellies.

    evmoNoelFigartJenAsuziedodsJSwimChrisgreenetortugabluemermaid9Jbetley
  • FlowSwimmersFlowSwimmers Polson, MontanaMember

    Welcome, @kejoyce ! Hope to see you ice swimming this winter!

    kejoyce
  • ThéobulleThéobulle FRANCEMember

    Hello , I am a French swimmer and lifeguard . Looking to contact coaches, swimmers who can be interested to help me to advise me to achieve a performence during the crossing of the Strait of Messina (Italy) in 2017. All the experiences and advice are welcome. I have to my credit a crossing English Channel in September 2014 by five relay swimmer 13h12min . thank you for helping me ! B-)

    tortugaIronMikeevmoJenAChrisgreenerlmJbetleyPasquale
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    edited July 2016

    Welcome @Théobulle

    If you read throughout the forums you'll find lots of advice for your Strait of Messina swim. And good luck!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • JMidgeJMidge NCMember

    Hi everyone!

    I am not new to swimming but I am just really starting to get into longer OWS events. I have been swimming on a team since I was 5 up into college and distance free was my event. Unfrotunately I went through some long painful periods of getting Lupus and Hypothyroidism then struggling to reach a point where I could start working out period. Fast forward to now (I'm 30) and my Lupus is well controlled and I have dabbled with 1 mile swims and about to do a 2 mile today and a 5K in August. So this is very exciting for me to really start finding my footing and competing again in the water. My first marathon goal is the 12.5 miles around Key West and then we will go from there!

    evmoJenAIronMikeChrisgreeneSolotortugarlmbluemermaid9grappledunk
  • Hanzo993Hanzo993 Barletta-Andria-TraniMember

    Hi everyone, i'm a new marathon swimmer :) My name is Daniel Douglas Di Pierro and i'm from Italy, i have recently done a marathon in Italy, From Vulcano to Capo Calavà (21 km, Sicilia) in 5 hours and 53 minutes :D I dream to do many marathon during my "career" and i would like to meet many people who share this passion with me

    IronMikeFrancoSolotortugacurlyrlmgrappledunkkejoyceJbetley
  • brunobruno Barcelona (Spain)Senior Member

    Hi!
    I'm Bruno, from Barcelona (Spain). I'm a regular OW swimmer. I've been reading the web & forum for a few months; I like it very much and your comments help with motivation.
    Last winter I started leaving my wetsuit behind. I just swam January and February in wetsuit (water around 14ºC), and March with a short 2mm wetsuit. I hope the coming winter I'll be able to do it without any, hence become a "real" marathon swimmer (though in my region races are usually of 6 or 7km; 10+ are difficult to find). In June I swam a 9.5K with the short one, and I was OK.
    Also in June, in a 30km relay, I swam the first 20km straight, rested for 2 hours, and did the last 4km. But the organizers wouldn't let me do it without the wetsuit (for safety reasons). That's when I decided to (stubbornly?) left the wetsuit.
    May this comment be something like a commitment to get there!

    evmocurlyJenArlmSoloIronMikegrappledunkkejoycetortugaJbetley
  • Hi! I'm Gabi! I've been a pool swimmer for 12 years now, but would like to learn more about how to transition to the open water. Hoping to use this forum to pick up some tips and find good websites/blogs that have good info for beginners. My only experience with Open Water has been at Age Group Central Zone swim meets in the Midwest! My first race was .5 mile in a lake in North Dakota when I was 10!

    Can't wait to learn from you all!

    FlowSwimmersSoloIronMiketortugaJbetley
  • ChefKenChefKen Charleston, SCMember
    edited September 2016

    Hi everyone!

    Thanks so much for all the great information.

    I'm Ken, and I'm kinda new to the OW swimming world, but I've been working hard since my first race in 2014!

    I'm currently training for a ~16 mile swim around Folly Island in Charleston, SC in a few weeks. Have completed 2 training swims around over half of the island to make sure that the tide timing works, and we've been very successful. Looking forward to the swim in late September 2016.

    I'll let everyone know how it goes!

    https://facebook.com/ken.immer/posts/10153520918566262

    JenAChrisgreeneIronMiketortugarlmJbetley

    Ken Immer
    www.culinaryhealthsolutions.com
    IG: @siopswimtraining

  • I've been enjoying reading all the threads here the past couple days. I wanted to ask a specific question but evidently I have to comment in another thread before I'm allowed to start a thread (good policy) so I figured I would say hi here.

    I've always loved swimming, I did one marathon swim back in my late 20's (around key west) basically on a whim (to impress my future wife). I didn't really train for it other than lot of freediving, scuba, biking and a couple days a week of swimming laps at the fkcc pool and lagoon the 2 months before. Reflecting back on it, I was totally unprepared and only had the moxie of youth on my side. My only goal was to finish the race. I met my goal and loved every minute of it -- easily one of my top 5 personal highlights of my life.

    Fast forward to middle age, I've finally got back closer to my fighting shape and want to take another crack at some long/marathon swims. Lots of great info here, thanks!

    rlmJenASoloIronMikeJbetley
  • nitelingniteling Victoria, BC, CanadaMember

    I became interested (ok, maybe "obsessed") with open water / cold water swimming only a few months ago -- it started near the beginning of August, when I wondered on a whim what the fastest swimming stroke was. I set about learning to dolphin kick, and after figuring out a good enough approximation, I sort of developed a taste for swimming in general.

    Here's where I'm maybe a little unusual: I was already cold acclimatized for a long time before I started applying it to swimming. When I was growing up I went hiking naked on the small mountain near my parents' place, and I did that year-round, including in snow. I live somewhat farther south now, so less snow but more bone-chilling damp cold that I like a lot less than -15 C in the snow. I would occasionally jump in lakes while hiking.

    It didn't really occur to me that these lake dips were outside of human norms until one time a rather concerned onlooker said something like, "It's the middle of October! You were in there for 45 minutes! This is supposed to be a medical emergency!" and I replied, "Huh? I feel fine. I'm going to go hike in these woods for a bit; I'll come back and put my clothes on when it gets dark."

    So anyways, when I started re-learning all the swimming strokes I hadn't done since I was a kid, I put two and two together and realized that I could swim in the ocean whenever I wanted, and here I am. I've been learning all about nautical charts and the various methods of measuring seawater temperature and hypothermia.

    My initial goal is a pair of swims, one that's 3.1 km in 9 to 11 degree water, and one that's 6 km in slightly warmer water and tide-assisted. The things I'm working on are increasing my average swimming speed (currently around 2 km/h) and finding someone to either swim with me or follow me in a boat -- I've seen a few users here say they're in or near Victoria, BC, Canada; so maybe someone will be newbie-tolerant? :)

    SoloJbetley
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    edited October 2016

    niteling said:
    Here's where I'm maybe a little unusual: I was already cold acclimatized for a long time before I started applying it to swimming. When I was growing up I went hiking naked on the small mountain near my parents' place, and I did that year-round, including in snow.

    Understatement of the year, there! A little unusual?!
    Nevertheless, welcome to the obsession.

    niteling said:

    and finding someone to either swim with me or follow me in a boat -- I've seen a few users here say they're in or near Victoria, BC, Canada; so maybe someone will be newbie-tolerant?

    You may get more takers to your request if you clarify your current swimming attire. ;)

    JenASoloJbetley

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • JenAJenA Charter Member

    @niteling said: I've seen a few users here say they're in or near Victoria, BC, Canada; so maybe someone will be newbie-tolerant? :)

    Have you tried reaching out to @msathlete? PM me if you would prefer her email address.

  • nitelingniteling Victoria, BC, CanadaMember

    You may get more takers to your request if you clarify your current swimming attire. ;)

    A speedo, i.e. the bare legal minimum, but I am technically clothed :P

    And a cap, for visibility to boats more than anything else, and goggles. If I'm exploring a new place, I'll also wear sea shoes in case I need to touch down / end up on rocks (I started doing this after my foot got in a fight with a barnacle).

    (Sometimes when I'm far enough out that the prudes on the beach can't see, I'll take off the speedo and stow it under the cap, which makes me look a bit like a garden gnome.)

    suziedodsSallySwims
  • (Sometimes when I'm far enough out that the prudes on the beach can't see, I'll take off the speedo and stow it under the cap, which makes me look a bit like a garden gnome.)

    Brings to mind one open water camp I went to as a teenager during which I experienced something called "suit on head day". I wasn't quite brave enough to participate.

  • Greetings, I am new to competitive OWS in general. I am working my way up toward a 10k, doing my first 5k in a couple weeks in South Padre Island TX. While I have not competed in open water, I am very familiar with it, as a HS swimmer, Life guard, Scout Swimmer in the Marines, and eventually open water lifeguard in Hawaii. Fast forward through raising and coaching a couple kids a bit in swimming and other sports and suddenly I am 45 and moving from the Midwest to Texas. Now I have all this ocean and lakes all around me. Started swimming in a local pool (SCY) about a 1.5years ago, and have done one Masters meet. Found out I wasn't fast, so I figured I better be strong and started doing distance.

    My workouts are between 3 and 6,000 yards 3 to 5 times a week plus a couple HIIT classes a week. I am a little nervous about this first race, but life is an adventure. I have learned a lot about what to expect by trolling this site for the last month.

    evmosuziedodsthelittlemerwookierlmcurlytortugaJbetley
  • flystormsflystorms Memphis, TNSenior Member

    Hi Toad - Is that SPI 5k a race? If so, what's the info on I?

    Good luck on the 10k. You can do it if you put the time and energy into training. It's a fun distance.

  • ToadToad Member
    edited October 2016

    Thanks. Looking forward to getting out there.

  • Hi,

    First of all, sorry about my english.

    I´m ex-swimmer (national and regional competitions in Brazil until 19 y.o. Now i´m 31) who decided to no retire completely and found some pleasure in OW swimming.

    I have only 2 main experiences in OW, both in Copacabana beach in Rio. In 2010 I crossed about 3,6km in 55 minutes. Stop swimming for some years, and came back for a 4Km in 1h 07min in 2015. (both with no wesuit)

    Within 3 weeks from now i´ll be back to Rio for a 5Km event. About that, i´m training something about 13/15 Km/week. Do you guys think its enough (my swimming technique is okay)?

    Also, now I bought a wetsuit (no sleeves, till the unkle) and did just 1 trainnig wearing it. It felt so strage. Maybe I went a little faster (5 x 400m average 5:35, 2 x 200m average 2:44, 5 x 100m, average 1:16), but the demand on the arms mucles were so increased. What do you guys think about all of it ? Also, is that normal enter some water inside the wetsuit ? My first impression was: it demands less from my cardio, and more from my arms and shoulders.

    sorry if this is not the right place for those questios, and, again about my english. Tks.

    loneswimmerSoloevmoIronMiketortugarlmJbetleysuziedods
  • Oh go on then... :)

    Hi everyone, my name is Matt Clarke.

    I am the only commercial swim pilot in the (original) Channel Islands, based in Jersey.

    If you see me swimming, know that something has gone terribly wrong and please send for a lifeboat!

    evmoSoloJSwimloneswimmerKatieBunZoeSadlerflystormsJbetleytortuga
  • DublinSwimmerDublinSwimmer Member
    edited November 2016

    Hi there, been swimming about a decade. Mostly in wetsuits until recently, now getting used to sub 10 degrees in skins! Have done several 4-5 Km swims and looking to build on that now.

    loneswimmerrlmevmoKatieBunSoloJbetleytortuga
  • KatieBunKatieBun CornwallSenior Member
    edited November 2016

    Lionheart said:
    Oh go on then... :)

    Hi everyone, my name is Matt Clarke.

    I am the only commercial swim pilot in the (original) Channel Islands, based in Jersey.

    If you see me swimming, know that something has gone terribly wrong and please send for a lifeboat!

    @Lionheart ... Matt, by all means, go for a swim... but just stay on the boat during my swim? I'll need your expertise. ;-)

    Lionheart
  • MpolMpol Toronto, Ontario, CanadaMember
    edited December 2016

    Greetings from Toronto. I have followed MSF for some time now and have learned a lot from the postings, particularly about the difficult topics such as nutrition and training. My first big swim was in July 2016, a crossing of Lake Erie at the western portion (19.2 km, Sturgeon Point, USA to Crystal Beach, Canada). I am now training for the S and C in SCAR in April 2017. I have been dreaming of swimming in Canyon Lake! I find all of the postings very inspiring and motivating. Many dedicated swimmers in the community!

    evmorlmthelittlemerwookieloneswimmerj9swimcurlyIronMikeJbetleysuziedodstortuga
  • Hey everyone, my name is Emma and having read a lot of the posts on here I'm feeling like a complete newbie and not meant to be here, but my view is if you want to succeed at something new then you should look to the best :) I have always loved the water (in fact I'm more at home in it than on land), was a county swimmer as a kid and a PADI divemaster in my early twenties but have only recently started hitting the pool again after years of inaction. I'm signing up to do a 5k swim in June and will prob need all your wisdom and advice as I get myself ready for it. Very excited though x

    evmothelittlemerwookieloneswimmerj9swimcurlySoloIronMikeJbetleyBigGuppy412tortuga
  • j9swimj9swim CharlestonSenior Member

    @EMJ - if you're looking for company in the open water for training please feel free to post up, we may be few but there's a chance there's a pod swimming outside somewhere near you....or maybe in the spring.

  • jkallojkallo ChicagoMember

    Hi all! I'm an ultrarunner, and recently I switched gyms to one with a nice 25 yard pool. After a few lap sessions, I have found myself really looking forward to my swims -- I swam competitively in school but not much in the years since. I wondered what sort of long distance swim community existed, did some hunting, and voila! I found y'all!

    My experience with open water swimming is all in connection with surfing, both in the Pacific and here on Lake Michigan. I live fairly close to Promontory Point and have spent a bunch of time surfing 57th st. In fact, I suspect that between surfing and running laps around the point I might know a few of you here by sight. I'm looking forward to coming out for a swim this year (and learning more about the sport).

    Joe

    ViveBenethelittlemerwookieevmorlmJbetleysuziedodstortuga
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