Open water swimming events Boston area
Jthanmyfitnesspal
Posts: 3,522 Member
Hi Folks,
I've been training for a few open-water mile events in the Boston area. It's really gotten me into better shape. My goal is to get below 28 minutes.
If anyone is interested, here are some links to a few events:
https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Boston/charlesriveronemileswim
https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/event/landshark-swim/
https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/event/wild-fish-open-water-swim-festival/
The first one is in the Charles River Basin. Sound scary, but they've been doing it for 10 years and no one seems worse for the experience! I did it last year and it was great.
The other two events get you matching medals that click together. My profile pic is me wearing my medal at the end of the Wild Fish last year. What a blast!
My training approach has been pretty simple: 3 swims a week. Two are "pace" swims of about 2500m total in a 50m pool, the third is 100yd and 50yd intervals in a 25yd pool. The other days are running or cycling. I also do some resistance band workouts. More swimming would certainly make me faster, but it's pretty hard on the shoulders!
Anyone else into it?
I've been training for a few open-water mile events in the Boston area. It's really gotten me into better shape. My goal is to get below 28 minutes.
If anyone is interested, here are some links to a few events:
https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Boston/charlesriveronemileswim
https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/event/landshark-swim/
https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/event/wild-fish-open-water-swim-festival/
The first one is in the Charles River Basin. Sound scary, but they've been doing it for 10 years and no one seems worse for the experience! I did it last year and it was great.
The other two events get you matching medals that click together. My profile pic is me wearing my medal at the end of the Wild Fish last year. What a blast!
My training approach has been pretty simple: 3 swims a week. Two are "pace" swims of about 2500m total in a 50m pool, the third is 100yd and 50yd intervals in a 25yd pool. The other days are running or cycling. I also do some resistance band workouts. More swimming would certainly make me faster, but it's pretty hard on the shoulders!
Anyone else into it?
6
Replies
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Sounds like fun! I'm in NJ and have a few open water swims lined up for the year. First up is Lap The Lake. (https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/FranklinLakes/LaptheLake)
Good luck with your PR goal!
-Cheryl2 -
Thanks @cherylesq for the response.
It really seems like not that many MFPers swim for exercise (although we do have some) and even fewer of us swim places other than pools.
In fact, open water swimming is a pretty niche sport in general, although it is now an Olympic sport (10k).
To any curious swimmers out there: Go try it at your local pond. It is really great to get out of that pool!2 -
Thank you for sharing your experiences on this. I'm a long time pool swimmer and currently swim with a Masters group and would really like to do an open water swim...wasn't sure if I could train in a pool for an open-water miler but you've inspired me!3
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stephaniek511 wrote: »Thank you for sharing your experiences on this. I'm a long time pool swimmer and currently swim with a Masters group and would really like to do an open water swim...wasn't sure if I could train in a pool for an open-water miler but you've inspired me!
All swimming is good training for open water. It's a big advantage to be in a 50m pool, but they are hard to come by (at least on the east coast-- explaining why few Olympic swimmers come from around here). Next, you have to do some workouts in actual open water (e.g., once a week, at least).
There are some new skills to learn:
- Adjusting your breathing for chop. Sometimes you just have to breath to the side away from the chop or from other swimmers.
- Navigating around other swimmers, particularly at the start. You are best off swimming with your head up for the first 100m or so. You can also pick up some speed by drafting behind or next to other swimmers.
- Spotting the course buoys. You must learn how to raise your head out of the water just enough to spot the next buoy, repeating regularly (every 10-20 strokes or so).
It certainly adds some new dimensions to a race!2 -
@Jthan - Wow, a 28 minute mile is a great goal!
Have you moved outdoors yet this Spring? I haven't left the pool yet, but will probably do so this weekend. I swim with a group who does outdoor swims on Friday nights at a local lake. So much more fun than pool swimming.
Have you ever considered the Casco Bay Swim/Run event in Maine? That one looks like fun, since its a two person team event that combines swimming with running across the islands in Casco Bay. Maybe next year
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@Djproulx: I had intended to do my first lake swim this past weekend. I wimped out due to cool weather. Next opportunity might be Sunday. It's been a cool spring and I expect my favorite pond (Walden in Concord, MA) is still in the 50s. I do have a full-length wetsuit and can wear a cap.
As for my time goal: 28:00 won't even get me on the podium in most venues. There are some really fast male and female swimmers in the 55+ age bracket!1 -
love OWS! i was supposed to be doing a 5K OWS early June, but honestly my training has sucked and its been too cold to really start OWS - so not sure if i'm going to do it or not0
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@Jthan - Wow, a 28 minute mile is a great goal!
Have you moved outdoors yet this Spring? I haven't left the pool yet, but will probably do so this weekend. I swim with a group who does outdoor swims on Friday nights at a local lake. So much more fun than pool swimming.
Have you ever considered the Casco Bay Swim/Run event in Maine? That one looks like fun, since its a two person team event that combines swimming with running across the islands in Casco Bay. Maybe next year
there was a swim/run in MD this past weekend - a friend of mine did it - looked insanely fun! but the whole being tethered to someone else kind of freaks me out 1 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »@Djproulx: I had intended to do my first lake swim this past weekend. I wimped out due to cool weather. Next opportunity might be Sunday. It's been a cool spring and I expect my favorite pond (Walden in Concord, MA) is still in the 50s. I do have a full-length wetsuit and can wear a cap.
As for my time goal: 28:00 won't even get me on the podium in most venues. There are some really fast male and female swimmers in the 55+ age bracket!
A few of my friends have been swimming for 2-3 weeks in really cold water. One of them is doing the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in June, so he's prepping for the cold.
Yes, there are a bunch of fast swimmers in that age group. I can think of 2 in my club who are around 1:15-1:20/100 swimmers. Makes me realize what a turtle I really am.
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deannalfisher wrote: »@Jthan - Wow, a 28 minute mile is a great goal!
Have you moved outdoors yet this Spring? I haven't left the pool yet, but will probably do so this weekend. I swim with a group who does outdoor swims on Friday nights at a local lake. So much more fun than pool swimming.
Have you ever considered the Casco Bay Swim/Run event in Maine? That one looks like fun, since its a two person team event that combines swimming with running across the islands in Casco Bay. Maybe next year
there was a swim/run in MD this past weekend - a friend of mine did it - looked insanely fun! but the whole being tethered to someone else kind of freaks me out
I refuse to believe a fish like you would be intimidated by tethering. You just have to choose your teammate carefully.
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deannalfisher wrote: »there was a swim/run in MD this past weekend - a friend of mine did it - looked insanely fun! but the whole being tethered to someone else kind of freaks me out
Are you tethered to someone during the event? That's weird!
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Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »there was a swim/run in MD this past weekend - a friend of mine did it - looked insanely fun! but the whole being tethered to someone else kind of freaks me out
Are you tethered to someone during the event? That's weird!
Casco Bay Event. It is tough to get entry, since this race is an Otillo qualifier.
Two teams from my tri club are registered for 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-qagWIBv0
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I’m very interested in doing an OWS event. Haven’t been able to find one locally here in Connecticut, but am now serious considering Massachusetts and New Jersey!1
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I’m very interested in doing an OWS event. Haven’t been able to find one locally here in Connecticut, but am now serious considering Massachusetts and New Jersey!
Believe there are a few in Connecticut....Think there is a "PigIronswim" at Bolton Lakes, The Lake Terramuggus 1,2,3 mile swims, the Quassy Sailing Center 1.5 and 3 mile swims, and the Sharkfest held in the Mystic river. There is also a nice race at Lake George in late summer, early fall.....0 -
Charles river swim is in the books. (I came in 75th out of 150.)
Next for me is the Land Shark on Saturday:
https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/event/landshark-swim/1 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Charles river swim is in the books. (I came in 75th out of 150.)
Next for me is the Land Shark on Saturday:
https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/event/landshark-swim/
Well done and good luck for the next one. I am not the best swimmer and my first open water experience scared me to death. The salty water, current, thought of weeds and fish touching me sent me into a panic. I swore I was never getting back in the water but 3 weeks later I completed my first triathlon and my swim was actually fine. I need to continue to build my confidence and then I will look at doing some open water events for fun 2 -
Landshark is in the books! I was 3rd in 50+ men, 18/48 overall.
The race featured some contact with other swimmers; someone knocked my mask off and (maybe the same person) hit my mask a second time later in the race. Not sure if it was intentional and/or preventable. Still, it was my first experience with swimming as a contact sport. No harm done, and I beat the second guy after passing him on the final stretch!3 -
I've just committed to doing the swim in a tri sprint relay in Sept. I'll be joining a weekly ow training group when I get back from vacation.2
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It's a bit of a schlep to the closest Open Water Swim Club. Most certainly something to consider. We tend to swim out on our own, when we can make the commitment to do it. Joining a club pushes one to commit.
Appreciate your sharing OP.2 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Landshark is in the books! I was 3rd in 50+ men, 18/48 overall.
The race featured some contact with other swimmers; someone knocked my mask off and (maybe the same person) hit my mask a second time later in the race. Not sure if it was intentional and/or preventable. Still, it was my first experience with swimming as a contact sport. No harm done, and I beat the second guy after passing him on the final stretch!
Do you wear the goggle straps under your swim cap? That would help avoid losing them if they get knocked off.
I'm assuming you probably race in a non wetsuit division. If you do wear a wetsuit, you can take an extra pair of goggles and loop them through the pullcord on the back of your wetsuit as insurance. Congrats on a great finish!2 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Landshark is in the books! I was 3rd in 50+ men, 18/48 overall.
The race featured some contact with other swimmers; someone knocked my mask off and (maybe the same person) hit my mask a second time later in the race. Not sure if it was intentional and/or preventable. Still, it was my first experience with swimming as a contact sport. No harm done, and I beat the second guy after passing him on the final stretch!
I did my first mile open water swim last summer, luckily no contact. It was a Swim Across America Event, so not a super competitive event, but it was a good event. I don't really have anywhere to train in open water that is easily accessible. Both places I have had events are private.
When I did my first sprint triathlon, that has a lot more contact. I got kicked in the face, goggles got moved, but not lost thankfully. I was terrified, so I started at the back of my wave. Being a swimmer, that wasn't the best idea. Much better the next year when I just went out fast at the front and got out of the crowd.
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Budging into you gentleman's conversation@ mask getting knocked off ... I have always felt comfortable wearing my goggles under my swimcap which I pull over my ears ( covering my earplugs) when I'm swimming in a lake, river or out to sea. In the pool it's an opt in. There might be hardliners who would disagree, I realise, but it works for me.
The last time I did swim in Open Water competitively, was for a triathlon relay, where the swim lap was mine to accomplish. I like to break out of the pack, tracking my barrier buoy marking when I take breaths after every 20 strokes on the shadow side of the current with a forward tilt to my head. In the ocean,I tend to not kick as hard as I would in the pool. Don't ask why, it just works for me to use a scissors like stride kick delayed flick whilst my arms are locked into a full freestyle.
Do you all EVER think about sharks, sea snakes, jellyfish, large lake/river fish before your swims?2 -
The Charles is definitely cleaner than it was decades ago. But public swooning is still banned. Events have a lot of eye balls on the swimmers.
Best of skill on your events.
Lived in Boston a total of 11 years. But didn't get hooked on swiping until I moved to NC. Unfortunately there are no places that are safe enough to train in open water. Way too much boat traffic.
I just swim a lot in the pool. Maybe some day my pass will be fast enough to try an open water event. For now I pace myself for 4 mile swim. About 1:56/100yd.
Longest swim distance is 10km. Patriots win the Superbowl when i do a 10km swim in Superbowl weekend. That's why they lost the last one.
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Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »there was a swim/run in MD this past weekend - a friend of mine did it - looked insanely fun! but the whole being tethered to someone else kind of freaks me out
Are you tethered to someone during the event? That's weird!
Casco Bay Event. It is tough to get entry, since this race is an Otillo qualifier.
Two teams from my tri club are registered for 2018.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-qagWIBv0
there is also the new SwimRun series - IGNITE Swim Run - they did one in Maryland and i think there is one in PA coming up0 -
I'm not from the Boston area (I'm in Tennessee) but it's great to see MFP's talking about OWS. I'm in the pool three times a week then jump into the lake around late June/early July. It takes that long for our water to warm up. I've done a bunch of different triathlons and love/hate the swim portion. For anyone heading South, there is always the Gatorfest event in Augusta, GA. It's in the Savannah river..........with a current, yay! I'm hoping to do the HIM in Augusta, GA this year without a wetsuit. Oh boy........1
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Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Thanks @cherylesq for the response.
It really seems like not that many MFPers swim for exercise (although we do have some) and even fewer of us swim places other than pools.
In fact, open water swimming is a pretty niche sport in general, although it is now an Olympic sport (10k).
To any curious swimmers out there: Go try it at your local pond. It is really great to get out of that pool!
I swim but after watching the "monsters inside me" TV show, I decided to avoid open water swimming.1 -
It took me a while to get back to the thread. Lots of great new posts!
I really like the idea of putting the goggle straps under the cap. I don't train with a cap, so it didn't even occur to me. Luckily, when I was bashed, the goggles didn't fall off completely, so I could put them back on. Thinking back, it could certainly have been avoided by the other swimmer and could well have been intentional. It happened twice while there was plenty of room. I can't be sure if it was the same person and I made no effort to bash back, but I did make an effort to beat him. Looking at the results, I can see that the person behind me (who definitely hit my face the second time) was a male of the same age as me. Why any mature person in such a friendly competition would not make every effort to avoid contact is beyond me.
@fishgutzy has the best misspellings: "But public swooning is still banned." "But didn't get hooked on swiping until I moved to NC." Man, that's good stuff! (And you sound like a great swimmer!)1 -
Ha. Swype fails and lack of proof reading. 0
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