IMLP swim start tips or any 2500+ mass swim start tips...if any

This gets my vote.  I did IMLP this year with a 1:03 swim time.  I seeded my self in the front 1/3 of the pack and just went with the flow.  There was contact, but if you are a confident and comfortable swimmer, then I think you'll do better embracing the group swim aspect.   Hell when I swam in my youth we'd pack 10 kids in a lane trying to circle swim and there was rougher contact.

In hindsight, I'm not sure there's anything you can really do to truly prepare for the IM swim start.  Others may disagree, but unless you wait a few minutes for everyone to start in front of you, the IM swim start (not including the wave start races) is a unique experience.  I talked to people about it, I watched video, I read this board, etc.  However, until I actually did it, I didn't know what it would really be like and I'm not sure it's something that can be put into words.

I think you said it - the botton line is that there's a strong HTFU factor when dealing with the washing machine. 

I figured as such...dont get me wrong I am very aggressive in my olys and HIM's just after going through a few race reports and hearing of some person getting knocked out of commision I would be more passive in this race....At that distance whether I come in at 12:45 or 13:00 really doesnt matter too me for a first IM

So I guess I will just seed myself toward the back third and just embrace the madness and laugh as I am the kicker or the Kick-ee 

My advice is to just keep moving.
You will get hit, and you will accidentally hit others. Don't take it personally, and DON'T STOP. Even if you have to adjust a goggle or what not, float horizontally and keep kicking to maintain your lane (so to speak).

At IM Wisconsin 2010 at the VERY beginning, two guys got into a yelling/cussing match because one thought the other purposefully hit him. Really? You want to duke it out in the midst of 3000 of your closest friends? Just keep swimming...  

Haven't done IMLP, but especially at Wisconsin I learned my lesson on the first turn bouey to take it wide. Right up on the bouey was a hot mess that was almost worse than the start.

Thanks, you just gave me my strategy for next year. Lake Placid will be my first full IM.

It was my first as well.  The strange part is getting back in the water for the second lap.  You come out of the water, cross the timing mat, and then turn left to get back in the water.  The dock I mentioned extends straight out from shore 20 or 30 feet, maybe.  So you wade straight out along the dock, then turn left and swim across what was the start line and continue.  When you're in the MOP, 1000+ people have already waded in along that dock and then started swimming in the minutes before you get there.  That creates a very noticeable current that pulls you along.  Bizarre feeling.  Very much like the whirlpool effect we used to get going in the pool as kids, when everyone would walk in a circle close to the pool walls.

Apparently not everyone does this.

I was at swim transition and saw the volunteers chasing "that guy" through the chute. After there I was sent to bike-in/bike-out and got to see him being carted back off the bike course.

I am very excited, it's a beautiful place for a first IM. Cleanest fresh water I've ever swam in.

Here is a blog you might find helpful.

IMLP Swim

You may want to consider the outside and head straight to the turn bouy.. the increased distance is minimal .. I have the numbers somewhere but from the wire to the shore is like 200 ft or around 65 meters, for a length of about 800 meters, do that as a triangle and the hypotenuse ~802.6m

Well I did a 1:12 and started somewhat near the dock but a few rows back.  I did get caught up in the "washing machine" but it was only after people stopped to help a swimmer or two get rescued which caused the entire field to bunch up a bit.  

To me it seemed like so many people tried to go on the way right, so at least in the start I was not crowded at all and had a straight shot to the cable.  I know everyone says to go to the right, but I feel like lots of people try that strategy making it more crowded, and it does add some distance to the swim.  If you want to swim on the cable, it tends to be relatively free on the inside of it, you just have to make sure to go around the outside of the buoys at the turns.  Also, I don't understand the treading water comments, if you're wearing a wetsuit then you shouldn't really need to tread water anyway.

I think you have already answered your own question. Keep in mind, for you there won't be any real difference if there are 2500 people in the water or 250 people. Frankly, most people end up have interaction with less than 25 people during the race. So don't be intimidated by the numbers.

While physical contact may be inevitable in a mass start, it's important that you don't react to it. Just make the necessary adjustment and forget it. The quicker you can get back into your stroke the better race you'll have. So I recommend to people that they move aside for the crazies who come not only expecting contact, but quite prepared to dish it out. They are not the greatest swimmers. More likely they had it done to them and they decided if it slowed them down, then it must have made the other guy go faster.

I have no fear of contact of any kind in the water, but so what. My goal is to swim fast while expending the least amount of energy. If I think it is to my advantage to start in the middle near the front, than I will. But I have found that nearly every time I would have been better served by starting over further. I do not preach the "sprint to the first buoy" philosophy. It just makes no sense unless you are looking to be in the top 10 coming out of the water. Sprinting from the start, finding a fast pair of feet and holding position are very high level skills. How many times did you practice that before the race? Why try it on race day?

 The most important self-protection rule in elite swimming: only have one competitor at your side (i.e., do not get boxed in with swimmers on one's left and right sides). I figure if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.

This is all really good advice for OP.

You must be new here Michael

The OP already finished his IM.  This thread started last year and somehow got bumped.