I reread what I posted and thought I should clarify that I'm not moving to Bermuda just to train for
a triathlon - I've never done a triathlon before - I'm moving there and getting married, starting a
new job... but the good weather and opportunity for training year round made me rekindle my interest
in doing a triathlon.
Dan - thanks so much for the tips!
Quoted message said:I envy you Eric. It sounds like you are moving to triathlon Paradise.
Yeah, that was what hit me when my fiancee and I finalized our plans to move there. It is just a
matter of finding (making) the time to train. There is a small group on the island that does local
tris there, so I am going to hopefully see if I can hook up with them.
Quoted message said:I think the main concern for your ocean swims should be safety. When I lived in Boca Raton,
Florida, a group of us pool-trained triathletes would meet for open-water ocean swims for 1 to 2
miles every Sunday. We swam parallel to the beach in the Atlantic Ocean about 50 yards out beyond
the breakers.
1) Always swim with buddies. You must have someone to call for help if you need assistance. Make
sure your buddies watch out for each other. If someone has to leave the water, they should walk
along with the swimmers so that everyone knows where everyone is. We once had a swimmer do half
a mile, leave the water and go home, and everyone else wasted time and the emergency vehicle's
time looking for the missing person.
Ahh - good point, thanks. For some reason I overlooked that and feel foolish I didn't think of that.
I was hoping to be able to train by myself - I like to train by myself as a way to find time to
think over things and enjoy the time. Socially training always ends up competitive for me and I
figure that is what races are for. But in terms of safety, that is crucial in swimming I imagine.
Quoted message said:2) Always wear a bright swim cap. Pleasure boats and jet skis are probably your biggest danger as
it is very hard to see swimmers while moving at speed.
I don't currently own a swim cap - but I'll be sure to get one. The areas that I had in mind for
swimming (if you are familiar with the island, I won't live that far from Coral/Elbow Beach, and
Horeshoe Beach is also an option - I will live about 100 yards from the harbor, but I doubt think
that is a safe/clean place to swim) aren't really areas that I've ever seen boats or jet skis - it
is even feasible that they aren't allowed there. Or it could be that they are out beyond the reefs
in that area - there are many reefs near the shore that help keep the water calm (and as a result,
nearly crystal clear).
Quoted message said:3) Beware of critters. We never wore wetsuits, but the occasional jelly fish swarm or red tide
would cut our swims short. We swam over reefs and never had any problems other than the
occasional sea turtle or barracuda eye-balling us.
Oh - excellent point. I know that they get Portuguese Man of War (men of war?) supposedly from March
through July. Some areas get them worse than others. I've been swimming in these spots a few times
in the past, but never had goggles - so I I have to admit that I have actually never looked all that
much at the underwater life there (aside from visiting their aquarium).
Quoted message said:4) Beware of others. We swam early morning on Sundays. Occasionally you had to beware of a shore
fisherman or surfers. They usually saw you and avoided you.
Again, I've never seen these at the areas where I was hoping to swim - so perhaps they aren't
allowed, or the area just isn't condusive for what they would want.
I know there are two areas that are supposedly "better" swim areas - calmer waters and less issues
with jellyfish - so perhaps I will have to seek those out instead. I was hoping to avoid those
because they are further from where I will be living, and I also thought ocean training might help
for races that have rougher water.
Thanks again for the tips - and I welcome any others as well. I am excited to get into it all. In
order to stay motivated, I'm hoping to keep lots of stats - my heart rate, my gps location (not
during swims
- and probably not the HR during swims eihter), my times and distances and anything else I can think
as well. I've found, at least as a runner, there are two types - people that love to run, and
people that love to race. I hate to run (well, distance training bores me - I enjoy speedwork). I
love to race - I'm competitive. So I'm hoping that the 3 sport training will help keep me
interested and the new things to learn will help motivate me.
Thanks,
Eric
