Great Manchester Swim
Discussion
Anyone else taking part in this on Saturday? I'm in the 11am wave and pretty nervous as I've never done an open water swim competitively so I'll be trying to get away quick at the start away from all the havoc
Looks like being perfect weather for it which makes a change as I believe the last 2 years its poured down and been quite windy and therefore fairly choppy
Think there was 2500 did it last year, I'd be delighted if I could finish in the top 1% but slim chance I think
Looks like being perfect weather for it which makes a change as I believe the last 2 years its poured down and been quite windy and therefore fairly choppy
Think there was 2500 did it last year, I'd be delighted if I could finish in the top 1% but slim chance I think
Yeah it was 22 degrees water temp. Most people still did it in their wetsuits though. Was quite choppy though and swallowed a lot of water
I went off like an idiot and was leading for the first few hundred metres and then suddenly felt like I couldn't go any further
took about another 500metres to feel ok again and then steady until the finish apart from swimming into the wall.
In the training I'd done I hadn't actually done the full mile without stopping so it felt a lot harder than I was expecting
Time was 24.10 out of the water and official chip time of 24.29 which made me 102nd out of 2100. Fairly disappointed but a decent first attempt.
I think I'm as quick a swimmer as most who finished ahead of me but the fitness to keep it going over the mile just wasn't there and had long spells of breastroke to try get my composure back and then would reel those ahead of me back in but then feel like I had to stop again.
I went off like an idiot and was leading for the first few hundred metres and then suddenly felt like I couldn't go any further
took about another 500metres to feel ok again and then steady until the finish apart from swimming into the wall. In the training I'd done I hadn't actually done the full mile without stopping so it felt a lot harder than I was expecting
Time was 24.10 out of the water and official chip time of 24.29 which made me 102nd out of 2100. Fairly disappointed but a decent first attempt.
I think I'm as quick a swimmer as most who finished ahead of me but the fitness to keep it going over the mile just wasn't there and had long spells of breastroke to try get my composure back and then would reel those ahead of me back in but then feel like I had to stop again.
Yeah choppiness is a b
h and so is swallowing water (especially the manky water in that quay! bork!). The choppiness can catch you out with your stroke (hand entry different every time) and of course breathing (nothing like turning your head for a sharp intake of air and just getting water!)
Doing a bit of breast stroke is ok, better to get your composure back and your breath, rather than struggle on. I'd be exactly the same.... I am not a distance swimmer by any stretch, give me 50's and 100's and ill be happy all day. in fact I was the odd guy out at training because my 200 time was so out of step with my 100. My friends were hovering around the 2 min mark for the 200, while turning in 54's for the 100. I was all the way out at the 2:10 mark and struggling!
Yet, give me a set of 50's max effort and, with reasonable rest, will be able to bosh most of them out very close to PB. Its just how you're built I guess. I did a 400 free once. Key word once.
I've only ever done surf swimming for OW and find that ok, they're usually 4-500m. The wetsuit definitely helps, but trying to adjust your stroke for waves is hard. Still, fitness can take a back seat as you can make up lots of time by just sighting correctly and learning how to body surf on the way back! (one arm freestyle with your other hand out like super man!)
24 mins is still a not too shabby effort at all though mate so dont feel too bad! still a respectable 1.30 per 100m
Always difficult to gauge that initial pace. You have to reign the excitement and adrenalin in. Without a proper warm up (30 mins!) I know it'll take a good 2-300m for my heart and lungs to feel right and not feel like they are about to burst! after that, I can start to wind it out a bit.
h and so is swallowing water (especially the manky water in that quay! bork!). The choppiness can catch you out with your stroke (hand entry different every time) and of course breathing (nothing like turning your head for a sharp intake of air and just getting water!)Doing a bit of breast stroke is ok, better to get your composure back and your breath, rather than struggle on. I'd be exactly the same.... I am not a distance swimmer by any stretch, give me 50's and 100's and ill be happy all day. in fact I was the odd guy out at training because my 200 time was so out of step with my 100. My friends were hovering around the 2 min mark for the 200, while turning in 54's for the 100. I was all the way out at the 2:10 mark and struggling!
Yet, give me a set of 50's max effort and, with reasonable rest, will be able to bosh most of them out very close to PB. Its just how you're built I guess. I did a 400 free once. Key word once.
I've only ever done surf swimming for OW and find that ok, they're usually 4-500m. The wetsuit definitely helps, but trying to adjust your stroke for waves is hard. Still, fitness can take a back seat as you can make up lots of time by just sighting correctly and learning how to body surf on the way back! (one arm freestyle with your other hand out like super man!)
24 mins is still a not too shabby effort at all though mate so dont feel too bad! still a respectable 1.30 per 100m
Always difficult to gauge that initial pace. You have to reign the excitement and adrenalin in. Without a proper warm up (30 mins!) I know it'll take a good 2-300m for my heart and lungs to feel right and not feel like they are about to burst! after that, I can start to wind it out a bit.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Sunday 21st July 23:14
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