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2007-01-24 9:41 AM

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Subject: Mass Swim Start
I don't know what it is but for some reason I get nervous thinking about the mass start for IMLP. I am a good swimmer too, not great but good. I will avg about 1:30-1:35/ 100yds an I feel comfortable in the water but for some reason that mass start looks crazy. I think it is because I feel like i'm not going to be able to get into a flow with my stroke. For all of you veteran Iron-Athletes, Does the swim spread out after the start? Can you get a "lane" to swim in or is it crowded the whole way?

Thanks for your input......


2007-01-24 9:52 AM
in reply to: #666147

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The Original
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

At IM FL the swim course was really congested for about the 1/2 half of the first loop. It definitely was thinned out by the 2nd loop. It's hard to get into a groove at first but once it thins out you can go at your own pace without a lot of disruptions.

I was very intimidated by the mass swim beach start, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I did get kciked and hit, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't handle or wasn't expecting.  I positioned myself in the middle toward the outside.  The more aggressive and competitive swimmers place themsevles toward the inside front so it's probably a different story if you start in that position.  Luckily I'm not one of them.

I was surprised at how many people walked into the water when the cannon went off.  even where I started- not everyone was throwing elbows and racing into the water all at once.

Try to read some IM race reports (especially LP ones) to get different persepctives on that swim- that might help ease any of your concerns.

2007-01-24 12:44 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
Yeah, I'm thinking that the mass IM Louisville is going to be a little strange, since it's in a river... what are we all going to do? Leap from a highway bridge one by one for the start?
2007-01-24 12:46 PM
in reply to: #666450

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

TacomaLuv - 2007-01-24 1:44 PM Yeah, I'm thinking that the mass IM Louisville is going to be a little strange, since it's in a river... what are we all going to do? Leap from a highway bridge one by one for the start?

I have heard it mentioned, but not confirmed, that the start might be from barges that will be loaded and brought up river. I have no idea if this is true or not.

2007-01-24 1:03 PM
in reply to: #666453

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
rollinsw - 2007-01-24 10:46 AM

TacomaLuv - 2007-01-24 1:44 PM Yeah, I'm thinking that the mass IM Louisville is going to be a little strange, since it's in a river... what are we all going to do? Leap from a highway bridge one by one for the start?

I have heard it mentioned, but not confirmed, that the start might be from barges that will be loaded and brought up river. I have no idea if this is true or not.

It could also be like IMAZ and be a swim start. You float out to a point and start from there

2007-01-24 2:38 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

Yeah, it starts to spread out after about 2.39999 miles.

I need to find the link for that hilarious Youtube skit someone did on how to practice for an IM swim. 



2007-01-24 8:50 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
2007-01-24 9:02 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
MForger18 - 2007-01-24 9:41 AM I don't know what it is but for some reason I get nervous thinking about the mass start for IMLP. I am a good swimmer too, not great but good. I will avg about 1:30-1:35/ 100yds an I feel comfortable in the water but for some reason that mass start looks crazy. I think it is because I feel like i'm not going to be able to get into a flow with my stroke. For all of you veteran Iron-Athletes, Does the swim spread out after the start? Can you get a "lane" to swim in or is it crowded the whole way? Thanks for your input......
IMLP is a good course to swim in! It is a rectangle shape 2 loop course but the BEAUTY of it is that it has a rope/line like 6 feet under the water which serves as a guidance line (like in a pool!) It will be rough and crowded the 1st loop but it will get better on the second one. Another good thing IMO is that since Mirror Lake is compact you’ll have a lot of drafting benefits. Just practice OW swim with friends to get comfortable swimming with someone ahead, next, behind you or all!
2007-01-24 9:34 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

With that kind of swim pace, I would start right behind the first crowded row under the start banner, but in the middle or slightly off to the right side, not near the buoys on the left.  Don't start farther back or you will be battling TONS of swimmers who are slower than you but start in front of you anyway.  2 years ago I started closer to the front and I had very few problems, and I'm a slower swimmer, around 1:20:00 for the 2.4 miles.  Last year I started farther back and it was rougher.  I'm going to move up again this year.  It really gets easier after the first 1/2 mile, once you make the double turn at the end and start coming back in on the first lap.  Just get through the first 15 minutes and it's a piece of cake!

 

2007-01-25 1:15 AM
in reply to: #666147

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
i started about 2/3 from the front of the pack. it was a madhouse almost the entire way, especially the first 1/2 or so. mayhem. but i'll do it again...
2007-01-25 3:15 AM
in reply to: #666147

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
I found IMLP didn't thin out until the 2nd loop, and while I had spotted that famous rope line during a practice swim, I didn't spot it in the race until the last 10 minutes or so of the swim. Everyone wants to swim on that line!

Follow the advice given above: read some race reports. Mine is out there somewhere.

When you get to town, take a long walk around the lake to the restaurant on the other side. It's good, cheap, and you can look at the lake while you eat lunch on the deck. You'll even see swimmers in the water on the couse. Make mental notes of the landmarks. Then later that day, or in the morning during one of the organized practice swims, get in and swim a loop. If you sight well in advance, you'll have no problem with the course or the mass start -- you can just get in and swim. Will you get some elbows, kicks, and body bumps? Sure. But then again, when don't you during a race? And with your speed, you can start one of 2 ways: either in front, and duke it out until the exuberance wears off and the pack drops back a bit, or you can start at the far right and slowly work your way into the course.

Be careful getting into the water before the race starts. Most people get in and then swim near to shore in the minutes before the cannon so they can chat with family. There are some seriously huge rocks/boulders/slabs of stone in the shallow water. Watch your toes and wetsuit!

Visibility was great, temperature was good, water taste was fine. I really liked this swim.

Good luck!


2007-01-25 11:44 AM
in reply to: #666147

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
Thanks for all the replys. It seems like it will be fun. I am nervous to a point but I think it was because I had this idea in my head that the whole swim would be like the start, and I would never get going. I'm expecting to get the punches, and kicks, ect just wanted some feedback on how bad it was.
2007-01-26 6:12 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

here is a video for IMLP swim start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oYjehsV_CY

2007-01-27 7:32 AM
in reply to: #667026

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
ch2626 - 2007-01-24 8:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk

This one?



okay, that is really not funny, wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

are the swims really brutal? damn I will come in last volitionally just to avoid chaos!!!! I hate chaos at races
2007-01-27 6:41 PM
in reply to: #666147

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Master
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
I did LP in 2006 and, although it was crowded, I wouldn't call it brutal . People seemed to be pulling their punches so to speak, not kicking super hard, and kind of feeling their way through each stroke, especially at the beginning. I had some luck finding some space to swim in just to the left of the buoy line (which is perfectly legal as long as you make the turns outside of the buoys at the end). I was able to sight on the cable for a good part of both loops.
2007-01-28 10:38 AM
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Champion
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

IM CDA 06.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2MWes4Thao

  Never fails that someone will always cut across your bow (what line they are following I don't know).



2007-01-29 9:48 AM
in reply to: #670327

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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
I have to say that LP looks much better than CDA, for the swim start.
2007-01-29 11:08 AM
in reply to: #666147

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
For your swim time, start near the far shore on the right side of the start but be up near the front of the line. Get your bearings and you should find that there's a decent hill in the distance that is a near perfect sight line for the far turn bouy. Take that straight shot. Go out a bit hard and get on some good feet and then back off. If you don't get on the faster feet right away, you'll never catch them and you'll end up swimming slower than you could, or giving a ride to slower swimmers behind you. If the feet you pick end up being too fast, you can always let them go and and catch the next pair that comes along.

Don't give in to the temptation to move inside on that first length. You will get beat up. Things will get crazy again at the turn. Once you make it, things will still be hectic, but manageable. You could probably get on the rope at that point if you want.

Once you make the lap, you should be able to get on the rope and use that for the entire second lap.
2007-01-30 2:23 PM
in reply to: #671333

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Carmel
Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start
Thank you for that advice. That sounds like a good plan, and will help me get my bearing and my groove faster.
2007-02-01 8:39 AM
in reply to: #666147

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Mass Swim Start

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ...

... next time I think about skipping a swim workout, I'll remember this pciture.

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