signed up for the Salford 1 mile outdoor swim.
Discussion
My employer's one of the main sponsors of the event, so kinda got talked into it by a workmate. I'm a good swimmer but never done anything like this before. Now I'm bobbing it, I'm 47, reasonable good shape, but don't do any regular exercise apart from the odd session of press ups or sit ups at home.
Anyone done anything like this, the event is end of June, should I start training now, I was thinking maybe 2 months before go twice a week to the baths and pound up and down for about 45-60mins to get the heart/lungs working.
Anyone done anything like this, the event is end of June, should I start training now, I was thinking maybe 2 months before go twice a week to the baths and pound up and down for about 45-60mins to get the heart/lungs working.
fourpointsixgt said:
My employer's one of the main sponsors of the event, so kinda got talked into it by a workmate. I'm a good swimmer but never done anything like this before. Now I'm bobbing it, I'm 47, reasonable good shape, but don't do any regular exercise apart from the odd session of press ups or sit ups at home.
Anyone done anything like this, the event is end of June, should I start training now, I was thinking maybe 2 months before go twice a week to the baths and pound up and down for about 45-60mins to get the heart/lungs working.
I did the Henley swim (2.1km) last year. Did a few outdoor swims to prepare, but not enough that I learnt to front crawl properly so did the swim breaststroke, which is tiring when wearing a wetsuit. I was pretty slow!Anyone done anything like this, the event is end of June, should I start training now, I was thinking maybe 2 months before go twice a week to the baths and pound up and down for about 45-60mins to get the heart/lungs working.
mybrainhurts said:
How outdoors is outdoor...? Bog, or what..?
They do it in the Quay. Not the nicest of places to swim. 2 mates of mine did it last year. I was surprised (well not surprised she was in the heat she was in) to see one of them in the womens elite race mixing it with Keri-anne Payne!. She did good as well. 16-17 minutes I think.
My other mate went in the standard heats before... he managed it in less than half an hour. This is just as well because apparently if you took longer than that, they would hoik you out the water incase you got in the way of the Elite guys setting off in the next heat. (and they were doing 16 minutes, for a 1 mile, in open water.... that is very tough going, thats a minute per 100m, which is difficult enough to do in a pool!)
Do some training yes... though I wouldn't just plod up an down for an hour. You'll be better off doing some long sets, like 4 x 400m or 8 x 200m FC. Bit more intensity, but shorter distance with reasonable rest in between. Even 15-20 x 100m FC on a repeat that gives you 10 sec rest or so. Long as you keep the HR up (but not too high! Basic endurance is around the 140-160 beats per minute mark)
Do some in your wetsuit, you need to be able to swim comfortably in this. You might need to alter your stroke to account for it.
if you can, do some actual open water swimming. You need to be prepared for the cold and the dark. (one of the things that scares the crap out of me... spent years swimming, and its comfortable when you can see the bottom of the pool. When you can't, not only do you lose one of the ways you can gauge your speed, your mind plays tricks on you about whats lurking below!)
Also I would start training now.
Theres being fit... then theres being swim fit. Swimming is a tough sport, you're using all your body and you're doing it with a level of oxygen deprivation. Its very hard on the CV system. Also be prepared for the start. Everyone just goes gung ho into the water, if you're in the pack you will get kicked, swam over the top of, crashed into. Either be prepared for that (it can really scare some people who aren't used to it and make them panic) or have a game plan to stay out of the pack (will make it harder to swim as you can't slipstream, but you won't be being crashed into)
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 21st February 09:47
Otispunkmeyer said:
mybrainhurts said:
How outdoors is outdoor...? Bog, or what..?
They do it in the Quay. Not the nicest of places to swim. 2 mates of mine did it last year. I was surprised (well not surprised she was in the heat she was in) to see one of them in the womens elite race mixing it with Keri-anne Payne!. She did good as well. 16-17 minutes I think.
My other mate went in the standard heats before... he managed it in less than half an hour. This is just as well because apparently if you took longer than that, they would hoik you out the water incase you got in the way of the Elite guys setting off in the next heat. (and they were doing 16 minutes, for a 1 mile, in open water.... that is very tough going, thats a minute per 100m, which is difficult enough to do in a pool!)
Do some training yes... though I wouldn't just plod up an down for an hour. You'll be better off doing some long sets, like 4 x 400m or 8 x 200m FC. Bit more intensity, but shorter distance with reasonable rest in between. Even 15-20 x 100m FC on a repeat that gives you 10 sec rest or so. Long as you keep the HR up (but not too high! Basic endurance is around the 140-160 beats per minute mark)
Do some in your wetsuit, you need to be able to swim comfortably in this. You might need to alter your stroke to account for it.
if you can, do some actual open water swimming. You need to be prepared for the cold and the dark. (one of the things that scares the crap out of me... spent years swimming, and its comfortable when you can see the bottom of the pool. When you can't, not only do you lose one of the ways you can gauge your speed, your mind plays tricks on you about whats lurking below!)
Also I would start training now.
Theres being fit... then theres being swim fit. Swimming is a tough sport, you're using all your body and you're doing it with a level of oxygen deprivation. Its very hard on the CV system. Also be prepared for the start. Everyone just goes gung ho into the water, if you're in the pack you will get kicked, swam over the top of, crashed into. Either be prepared for that (it can really scare some people who aren't used to it and make them panic) or have a game plan to stay out of the pack (will make it harder to swim as you can't slipstream, but you won't be being crashed into)
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 21st February 09:47
mybrainhurts said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
mybrainhurts said:
How outdoors is outdoor...? Bog, or what..?
They do it in the Quay. 
Man made I guess so maybe not as many nasties as in nature. But it was bloody cold when they did it last year, grey and raining. Standard for manchester.
I found this thread interesting as I have signed up to do a 1.4 mile swim from pier to pier in Bournemouth in July.
I am a good strong swimmer, but need to start practising swimming distance, also in wetsuit in the sea.
I use to gym 4 times a week but going to start adding swimming too.
Good luck with your training.
I am a good strong swimmer, but need to start practising swimming distance, also in wetsuit in the sea.
I use to gym 4 times a week but going to start adding swimming too.
Good luck with your training.
Loopyleesa said:
I found this thread interesting as I have signed up to do a 1.4 mile swim from pier to pier in Bournemouth in July.
I am a good strong swimmer, but need to start practising swimming distance, also in wetsuit in the sea.
I use to gym 4 times a week but going to start adding swimming too.
Good luck with your training.
Sounds good!I am a good strong swimmer, but need to start practising swimming distance, also in wetsuit in the sea.
I use to gym 4 times a week but going to start adding swimming too.
Good luck with your training.
Sea swimming is even more fun because of the waves! Though its then another skill to learn, especially timing when to pop up and sight where you're going. Its not too wavy down there thankfully (or at least it wasn't last time I did the Bournemouth Regatta). Swam in Bude's "Vicko's Carnival" last year and was not ready for the waves!
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