Re: IM swim advice based on Harold's comments

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
 Tom Henderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Harold Buck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in news:no_one_knows-
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]:
> 
> > This reminds me about how they had the "Degree of Difficulty" on the 
> > bike and run course (the toughest section of the course, sponsored by 
> > Degree antiperspirant). I noticed immediately that they didn't have it 
> > labeled on the swim course, and I also thought they they *should* have 
> > labeled it, right at the first turn buoy. That's always a mess in a 
> > small race, let alone when 1800 people start at the same time.
> > 
> 
> What would your strategy recommendation be there? My assumption at the 
> moment is that I'm far better off losing time by staying wide of the 
> bouy, rather than losing goggles and blood trying to squeeze in on the 
> inside. I've been in some large waves before, but not 1800 people! I also 
> sprint my way out of trouble in shorter races, but don't intend to do 
> much sprinting during an IM swim.


Well, I've done a lot of open-water swims, but this one had probably 10 
times as many as I've had in a single wave before. I seeded myself 
accordingly--I was planning on doing the swim in 1:15 (and did exactly 
that), so I made sure that people near me were planning on doing about 
the same. This put me about 50-75 yards from the starting line.

I actually tried to stay on the inside of the course and just fought my 
way around the buoy. By the time you get to the first turn, it's thinned 
out enough that it isn't THAT bad. You just need to position yourself 
and then sort of "wait in line" for your turn to turn, so to speak.

Swimming wide on the first turn is not a bad a strategy, though. The 
further you get into the swim, the less hassle the turns are because 
people spread out even more.

--Harold Buck


"I used to rock and roll all night,
 and party every day.
 Then it was every other day. . . ."
      -Homer J. Simpson