Iron Girl Atlanta Swimming

It's deep, if you swim, which you should. If you walk the shore, then it's not deep, and it's not really completing a triathlon either.

All I want to convey is that you should be prepared to swim and not give yourself an out, which is the only thing I can think of when you ask how deep the water is. Swimming is a critical skill that should be mastered well before an attempt at a triathlon.

Good luck, and have a good race.

So, what he is saying is, if you choose to, you can swim along the shore and stand up to catch your breath :-)

I haven't done this race but have swam in Lake Lanier plenty of times and have done my fair share of OWS's. I know the water will be too deep to stand beyond where we wade in to start. It will be deep.

Can you breastroke or backstroke? If you're nervous about trying to swim freestyle the whole way these are good 'back-up' strokes. I would advise trying to do at least one open water swim (if possible!) before race day.

I can understand being a little anxious because open water swimming is definitely different than pool swimming.

Hope you have a good race!

I have done this race and in past years it was a point to point parallel to the shore.  Last year the lake was so low that it was pretty shallow if you wanted it to be but plenty deep if you swam out a little further too.  Water levels at Lake Lanier are close to being back to normal this year so I wouldn't count on anything shallow.  I will second what Atl Runner said - you should be able to do an OWS before you do a triathlon (and for a sprint be able to swim 600 meters without stopping no matter how you stroke it) for your own safety. 

As Augtiger suggested an OWS this weekend would be a great confidence builder before the race.  There are two OWS options on this forum for this weekend and I also know that Atlanta Tri Club is doing an OWS clinic at Acworth Beach on Saturday afternoon I believe at 1:00 pm.  GA Multisports is also putting on a newbie swim clinic at Acworth on Saturday morning at 9 am I believe.  Lots of great options.

This is a great first race - it was my first one ever too.  Good luck and have fun!

Edited by Lisa B 2009-06-18 9:19 PM

As others have said, it won't be a shallow swim because the water is up so high this year. However, I can say it won't be a long swim either. Lanier is one of the shorter swims in GA triathlons. Just stay focused, do your own pace and it will be over in 10-15 minutes and you can just worry about making it through the bike and run.

For those that are a bit south of ATL, there is a non-competitive swim tomorrow in the Macon area at 1pm. There is a 1/2 mile, 1 mile and 2 mile option. I will be out there swimming the 1 mile option.

http://www.medcenfoundation.org/celebrationswim/index.asp

I swam in lake Lanier this morning, although not at the race site. The water levels seemed pretty close to normal. Last year the swim was so easy becaause you could see the shore the entire time, which always gives me peice of mind. You will be great. 
Just toeing the start line is more than most people would do. You will finish a triathlete no matter what you have to do to finish. Even if that means taking a break during the swim or a walk break on the run.
Have Fun, i will be doing that race as well!!