Madison Open Water Swim (7th Annual)

Dang these events are expensive in the Madison area. Why is Madison like that?

I'm doing it, and as long as I'm out there, you won't be the slowest person on the course. Going to follow it up with a full course ride and a 4-6 mile run. Last big training weekend before Ironman.

Looks like there's a division for wetsuits and one for no wetsuit. No way would I go without. I need the help.

Edited by stainofmind 2009-08-14 1:13 PM

If I am there, you won't be the slowest person on the course either....still debating the 1.2m.  Great practice and fully supported, can't be that.

They can have my wetsuit when they pry it from my cold dead hands, or on 9/13 about 8:30 - 8:40, whatever comes first.

I'm about to sign up, and I know it shouldn't, but it's making me nervous. My longest open water swim is 1.2. It did it very comfortably, and I've gone much further in the pool, but something about this is gives me the butterflies. Better now and more comfortable on Sept. 13 though I guess.

I just signed up.  I'm hoping I can park myself ahead of some faster guys before the start  so I can get used to the experience of being swam over - to get me ready for the 13th 

I've got my long ride scheduled after the swim, so I'm hoping it's not steamy hot like the past few weekends. 

That actually sounds like fun.  Unfortunately that is my long run day and I can't reschedule that or Deanna will yell at me.

So, who did the swim?

I did it.  I thought it was well done with maybe 250 people or so.  The buoys were closer in to the shore than at Ironman (or so people said).  Water temp was low 70's, air temp probably 55 and no waves at all.  Winner did something near 50 minutes - I was a fair bit north of that. I'm guessing 1:20. I didn't have a watch and forgot to look when I got out of the water. 

I got my money's worth through my world-renown sighting skills.  They should have tied a refreshment caddy to me because I ended up getting close and personal with 6 of the kyaks over the course of the race.  I also ended up overshooting the first (?!?!?) turn and meeting a police boat.  I need to remember that when I feel like I'm in a groove, it's time to pop my head up and see how far off course I've gotten this time 

Anyway, I'd highly recommend it next year.  Nearly everyone in the parking lot had their bike too so it was a nice day on the course.  Never went very far without running into another biker. 

I did it too. Good event. A little disorganized at registration but not terrible. Swim itself went off without a hitch. Beautiful morning. I did find out the difference between swimmers and triathletes. Swimmers actually kick, hard. First 400 or so yards were rough. I think 288 finished the 2.4 swim. Biggest mass start I've been a part of. 2200+ at IM should be interesting.

I also did the swim, but I finished before the race started, then hit the course for one loop, and then a half hour run.

The day went very well for my last big training day before moo.

I thought it was a bit wild for the first few meters as well for the number of athletes, but it cleared up quick for me. I can't imagine the chaos for IM. It makes me a little nervous.

This course looked more rectangular (stretched out) then the IM course. Heard some people grumbling about it maybe being long.