Marathon swim training question

It would depend on how you are structuring your overall training to get ready for that race. Are you training by volume? Are you training by higher intensity efforts? These two questions would start to narrow down what would be the best approach. But, again, it's a tough question to answer without an understanding of how you are setting up your training.

Best regards,

Tim

Real training won't start until after Umstead 100 April 5-6. I usually can dedicate about 10-12 hrs/week for training. Average work 3@ 12hr shifts so I can get in <1hr on those days. So I have 3-4 days/week to dedicate to training. I have no idea what I'm doing but from what I gather, I should try to get in at least the goal distance = 10 miles/week training. So I suppose I'm volume training. Over the winter I've been putting in mostly drill sets, working on form. I also have to keep in run shape for a 50 miler 1 week after the big swim, and to a lesser degree bike, got a couple HIMs. I'm not a podium kinda dude, my goal is to finish, preferably not DFL. Does this help?

goal distance weekly is a good target. I would suggest ramping up to that distance to try and hit it consistently in the 3-6 weeks prior to the event and then taper, just like anything else. You'll probably have to put in a few 10k days back to back, but the 10k swim day will become a staple for you.

Check out the forums at
http://marathonswimmers.org/

Are you racing "Swim the Suck?" So you'll have about 6 months to train for it? Based on the description of your current training I would start out with 2 x 1 hour swims each day. Then throw in some 2 hour swims, but be cautious about ramping up too much, especially if you will be training alone. You will be more prone to poor technique and increase the possibility of some shoulder problems. Ideally, you'll want some 35k+ weeks leading up to the race. But please make sure that you get to that volume slowly. Realistically, I don't know if 6 months is enough time.

Thanks AB and snappingt. Let me know if you come up with any more pearls for me.

Special thanks to snappingt. Your doubt strengthens my will.

Lol. If it is swim the suck, it's a downstream race so you'll be getting current assist and essentially swimming less than 10 miles. You'll be fine as long as you continue to focus on efficiency & technique while you are building your volume like SnappingT said.

The approach I have taken with swimmers for this race and longer, is to draw a line from starting volume to goal volume, build in deliberate recovery as in a very traditional periodized endurance approach and if your target is race distance weekly or 2x race distance weekly...it is what it is. Draw a line, make the targets, build in recovery knowing that the better your technique & form the easier it will be to add volume.

Last year one of my athletes did the tampa bay marathon (made it to mile 18 before getting pulled...but so did 2/3 of the field plus 2 boats sank). We targeted a max volume of 40k , had a 15 week prep time, and her starting volume was 15k weekly.

Make a plan, stick to it, get stroke feedback, crush the swim.

You're a star AB. It is the Suck. I have no fear that I'll get there. Just want to be smart about it. Thanks for the help.