Outer Banks, NC - Training There

OBX covers a lot of territory.  We normally stay in the area of Waves, Rodanthe on Hatteras Island south of the craziness of Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills area.  I did plenty of swimming in the Atlantic with no real issues, you just have to figure out where some of the fishing lines are running from surf fishermen.  The last time we were there we had a hurricane or TS pass by out in the Atlantic and the water was to dangerous for a day or two, but otherwise that's the only occasion I wouldn't go into the water.  The hardest part about swimming is getting in and out of the surf while timing the waves, once your past that swimming is nice, but be aware that it gets deep quick.

I know there was a beach access site to Pamlico Sound just south of us in the National Seashore area with much calmer water, but in that area it wasn't very deep and it would've been tough to swim in, not familiar with other areas of the sound.

Running on the beach at low tide is nice provided the angle of the beach doesn't bug you to much, otherwise I ran along hwy 12 and into residential streets usually early in the morning when it's cooler and less traffic.  I never took a bike along but saw some riders.  With the traffic on 12 it could be a bit scary, but if you rode early enough it may not be to bad. 

You know how to tell if there are sharks in the water?
Stick your finger in the water
taste
if it tastes of salt
there are sharks in the water.

You know where the salt comes from?

shark pee.

We frequently go to Emerald Isle (bogue Bank) I have had very good swins in Bogue sound when the tide was high. When the tide is low, it's too shallow.