A long time swimmer and I am sure I know the answer deep down,and it has
probably been hashed here already but I was wondering about comparing
workouts in a pool (specifically a 25m) versus same in calm open-water
(eg: lake) and rough-water (ocean).
Around spring I kicked my mileage to vary between 2 - 2.5 miles via a 25
yd pool. I was completing this in just about an hour. Each mile was a
steady 24 - 26 minutes, splitting it out the 1/4 miles and halfs were
also consistent.
Then they switched to [25] meters. In response I moved to swimming 4500 -
5000 m in about 1 hour 20 minutes. This workout involved roughly 2500m
freestyle without resting, 1km kick, 1 km pull, then 500m interval.
My times were consistently (with the 1km kick) always around 1hr20min for
the full 5k.
Then I transitioned the ocean for a few of the workouts. My goal is to do
the Gatorman (3 mile) swim in September. I am not looking to place even
in my age-group, just finish strong.
La Jolla Cove has a 1/4 mile buoy and normally has a 1/2 mile marker as
well, but it is missing. So I swam from the Cove to the marker at the
Shores Lifeguard station and back -- estimating by the time it took to be
about 2 miles.
The next two times out I did the same route, but once I returned to the
cove i reentered the water and looped to the 1/4 mile buoy and back
adding a 1/2 mile to the total.
In the chop, I was able to do what i thought to be a total of 2.5 miles
in about 1 hr 10 minutes which fits pretty well with my pool times, but
without a waterproof GPS I can not be sure of my distances.
My third ocean day had significant chop. My time was obviously a little
slower, but even worse was the fact that my left arm (shoulder) tired too
quickly from navigating the chop, so completing my self-described 2.5
mile course was almost painful (I could have switched to my back or
breatstroke and continued swimming, but that isn't the issue here).
Obviously if I could workout in a 50m pool it would be a better indicator
than the 25 yard or 25 m. But other than that, how can I best be
prepared to swim the 3 miles in the ocean and handle chop? Practice,
practice, practice, but without a marked course I am not sure ow I am
really doing.
I suppose I could swim to the 1/4 mile marker and back to the beach 6
times!