Great Chesapeake Bay Swim

I've never done it, but I live around here and I know quite a few folks that have raced it....

I know this much: it's a long swim I know, I am SO helpful !
Seriously, it's a tough race, from what I know... the bay can get choppy and I know people have gotten seasick from the smell of the diesel fumes.

Well damn, if that doesn't make you want to do it, I don't know what will.

I didn't mean to dissaude you ! It IS a great race -- just a tough one !

I did it last year- my RR is posted. My company was a sponsor for the race, so I had a comp entry, but I do believe it's primarily lottery for general entry.

It's a great experience, but I decided to do it pretty late in the game, so I was very undertrained.. probably the closest I've come to DNF'ing in any race. The difficulty depends on the current- there have been some years when a large chunk of people didn't finish, and others where virtually everyone has.

Easy course to sight- you basically just have to stay within the towers supporting the bridge. Nice, friendly atmosphere to the event, as well- if you have the chance, I'd definitely do it. Just be ready to do some winter swim training!

If you go the lin-mark.com website, there is a link to info for the 2010 swim on the right side of the page, but it's somewhat incomplete at this point.. there should be more info in the fall.

Thanks for all of the responses! Yeah, uuummm... not really selling it there. HA!

Read the RR's! Great stuff!

I think I could do it. Diseal fumes do suck though. Don't the boats realize we smell/breathe that in?

It was interesting to learn that there is a food boat. HA! I would need something to drink, that's for sure. Not sure I would eat solid food though. Might just down a gel or two.

Well, the lottery doesn't happen till the end of summer... so I'll just wait till then. AND I have my 3 mile swim coming up in that Bay. I might do that and think that 4.4 miles is not something I want to do. HA!

I swam the race for the first time this year and immediately wanted to do it again next year. It took me about 3:05, so I was near the end of the pack, but it still was a good race. There is a lottery system which takes place around November. There are different ways to qualify. You can use the swim portion of a tri (greater than 1500m) or another one mile swim with a pace of 40 min per mile or faster. Personally, I didn't get too many diesel fumes, but at a couple points the chop made me nauseous. There is great support with kayakers and other volunteers. I highly recommend it! Check out my (brief) race report.

Oh, awesome! I will go read your RR.

Yeah, it looked like there was a lottery around end of summer and fall. Maybe I read it wrong?

I sent an email and they said my 2.4 mile swim at IM Kentucky would qualify me. I'm also doing a 3 mile OWS next month in MD.