Training for a long distance swim

[Flippetydip]

Help! I've signed up in a fit of madness for a 10km river swim in September.

I can swim but it's not something I "do" on a regular basis. I wanted to sign up for something to make me focus (I do this every year but it's usually running which I can do - at a sedate plod). This year, it's a swim that I was persuaded into by a colleague.

Tell me, has any leisure swimmer managed to do something like this and how did you train? I've started do a bit of swimming and can manage up to 2kms in the pool (no idea how much I can actually manage but time constraints apply).

Tips would be most gratefully received. My main issue is when do I start open water swimming? This is really the big issue, the distance is not so much of a terror than the open water.

Is this something that I've taken on too lightly? Should I pull out now?

Firstly you have given yourself plenty of time so, provided you can get the training in, you have got this! Don't punish yourself open water swimming until the water temp goes up. Concentrate on some strength sessions, work on your technique in the pool and start making a plan.

Work out, from the time constraints you mentioned, how 'fast' you need to swim to complete it. That is timings per 500/1k just as you would any running event and aim towards that. If it is a wetsuit event you need to have that ready to go when you start open water swimming. Do some strength training outside of the water and build up distances in. Some areas have introduction to open water swimming short courses which are really helpful.

Good luck with it all!

Thank you so much, that's really helpful. What I meant was time constraints on me completing more than 2km in the pool apply (as in I had to get home to get everyone up for breakfast this morning!). I will check whether there is a cut off.

I'm going to sign up for swimming lessons I think as much because it's the cheapest way to access the pool than because I need some technique lessons - win-win.

I will need to start thinking about a wetsuit at some point.

Do other "non-serious" swimmers do events like this? I know loads of beginner runners run marathons, I'm just not sure how it works on the swim circuit!

To me a 10k swim is the aquatic equivalent of running a marathon so it is more than achievable and plenty of people who would class themselves as non-serious swimmers take part!

Also worth remembering that when you're swimming lengths you posh off from the side every 25/30m and glide. You can't do that in open water so I find a distance in the pool feels much easier than the same in open water. I know I can swim a mile front crawl with little difficulty in the pool but knowing the river I have to keep dropping back to breaststroke oven for half the distance. I also could do with some lessons because I'm slow and inefficient and need to nail a river swim for a triathlon this summer! I am in awe of your 10k though. 750m is intimidating me at the moment!

A couple of tips:
When training in pool do so without touching the side at the end of each length. Over a few lengths this is helpful to increase stamina and does make a real difference.

When the weather warms up join an open water swim club, they will help with your technique in the pool and in open water. Many run pool sessions out of open water season.

Do look into getting a wetsuit, and do practise in it. Specific swimming wetsuits are quite different to other ones e.g. Less floaty in arm and leg area, less reinforced on chest, much much easier to swim in. Some companies hire them for the season.

Do practise in open water once the season starts. It's different, and better IMO than the pool for many reasons. There are a few things that are more tricky though e.g. A swell can build even on a river / lake when it's windy creating waves that you need to adjust for, also visibility is poor so you need to adjust your technique for swimming in a straight line!

It's the best feeling ever, enjoy!

Er, wow.

I seem to remember there's a very active open long distance water swimming community in UK; find their website & forums to discuss your options.

I'd be very concerned about the wetsuit, it's why I don't do non-pool triathlons, I don't want to have to think about the choices & fretting if I got it right. There must be wetsuits designed exactly for open-water long distance swimming: you need to research those; i guess whatever triathletes use. Worth spending £££ money on making sure you have the right product. Can consider 2nd hand or you can get value reselling it yourself, later.

Will it be mass start, will there be elbowing & pushing each other out of the way/underwater at start? (Another reason I don't do open water tri).

Last yr, in my pool, were a group who did the Channel, solo or in relay. The relay gals' pool training regime was about 1-1.5 hrs very hard swimming 3x a week. The solo blokes did 2-3 hrs, also hard swimming. That's on top of whatever they did in open water. There must be some training guides online, just like you find for 10km running, to plan your preparation.

What is your time limit for this event, how fast can you swim 2km now?

You'll need to think a lot about nutrition, & drinking water. I would need 5 hrs to do 10km swim and need water & food for that; will there be support boats? There are probably suggested schedules for taking on energy gels, also complementary training to do, like gym exercises or something else.

I do OW swimming, and 10km is a loooong way for your first event! You'll need to get in some other events before then, and def get some OW coaching to get you used to sighting and so on. OW can be really freaky at first with weeds, fish etc, and wetsuits can feel very restrictive until you get used to them.
The season doesn't start until May for non acclimatised swimmers, but start looking now for local places. I go to a lake session with a tri club, but also go to a lake with open access to do longer swims than 2 hours - also the lido which for me is a 50m pool but long sessions.

Theres a 10km training plan from Outdoor Swimmer magazine - you can see the long hours you'll need to put in!

Good luck!

Super feedback, thanks everyone.

Currently my 2km takes me an hour so yes, 5 hours for 10km currently. I have friends across the road who belong to an OW swimming club so will tag along with them come May.