training for swim

If you can avoid panicking your first time in a pack, and aren't the type to wander a half mile off
course, a 1 mi open water swim shouldn't be a problem. Honestly, if you are putting in 4-6
miles/week in a pool, you probably could step up on race day and swim 2.

I'd also say that a lot of navigation problems can be overcome by the buoyancy that a wetsuit
provides. Your best bet would be to actually get out in the open water with a couple of friends in a
no pressure environment. That will help you gain comfort so that on race day, you're just worried
about having people around, not navigating or other open water issues (you might even have your
friends bang you around a little in open water practice to simulate a race start).

Good Luck!

Stan

"Skipthomp48" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040229234725.02130.00000607@mb-
m19.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

I swim one mile 4-6 days a week in the local pools. Have time to 40

minutes.

Quoted message said:

With this type of training how far should I comfortably be able to

complete in

Quoted message said:

open water. Assume calm condiditons, although cold. I wear a tri (QR)

open

Quoted message said:

arm wet suit. Last summer I struggled, but during winter practice I have gained better stoke and
breathing techniques. I recognize that there a

lots of

Quoted message said:

variables to consider

Summary: An example of the type of answer I am looking for: If I Swim one mile in pool, that is
equal to (????? quarter mile, half

mile,

Quoted message said:

three quarter mile) in open water.

appreciate any other suggestions for this newbie

I am a pretty confident SOB, but I think two miles, or the thought of would freek me out! I do need
to get the sighting portion of the swim down. The lap swimmers I was with in Lake Mich this past
summer practice using the boundry rope for the swim area. The experts there say while you have to
practice sighting, the rope helps keep you in line while strengthening your stoke and breathing
techniques, and not having to worry every workout about sighting. As one expert stated, confirming
your comments, biggest thing is to not panic. Thank you for your comments.

I don't think you will have any problem with a mile or so. Strange thing about swimming is once you
swim as much as you do and keep it up you can add miles on with ease. The thing you have to fight is
boredom. I was swimming
1/2 mile for a while and jumped up to a mile and found it to be about the same in work out. I
probably am not pushing enough yet, but it is no big deal. I think I can swim 3 miles now
without a problem. Add a wetsuit which is cheating IMHO, and I could probably float over the
Atlantic to Scotland.

Curt

"Skipthomp48" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040229234725.02130.00000607@mb-
m19.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

I swim one mile 4-6 days a week in the local pools. Have time to 40

minutes.

Quoted message said:

With this type of training how far should I comfortably be able to

complete in

Quoted message said:

open water. Assume calm condiditons, although cold. I wear a tri (QR)

open

Quoted message said:

arm wet suit. Last summer I struggled, but during winter practice I have gained better stoke and
breathing techniques. I recognize that there a

lots of

Quoted message said:

variables to consider

Summary: An example of the type of answer I am looking for: If I Swim one mile in pool, that is
equal to (????? quarter mile, half

mile,

Quoted message said:

three quarter mile) in open water.

appreciate any other suggestions for this newbie

You are right about the boredum. I tend to day dream as I am in the 40-50 lap arena, what I am going
to do the rest of the day, etc. That is not the real problem, but I find once the day dreaming
starts I am working harder, which is because of the loss of concentration on my
stroke/breathing/rotation techniques. Glad I am not the only one! I thank you for your
comments/recommendations/words of encouragement.