Topic: Ironman Swim Start
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Alison
BC
Member Since:
04/04/2006 Total Posts: 349
2.2 Years Ago
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A question for the seasoned IM vets out there:
I've just signed up for IMC 2007 and the key part of the race I just can't wrap my mind around is the 2400+ person swim start. I don't like crowds in general and have set up my life to avoid crush and crowds and anywhere with vast numbers of people in limited spaces (such as Okanagan Lake) so I really don't know how I'm going to deal with it. I've printed pictures of the swim start and am posting them around my house in an attempt to help me visualize the sheer numbers, although this may backfire and leave me with phobias of the fridge and bulletin boards!
Any IM vets have any suggestions of how they deal with crowded swim starts? How did you prepare yourself, through training, visualization, etc? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I only have 354 days to figure this out! |
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Jimbo
FL
Member Since:
01/03/2005 Total Posts: 667
2.2 Years Ago
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Not an IM vet, yet but with any mass start I just worry about myself and maybe have to deal with the immediate folks around me which maybe 5. Therefore, you don't need to worry about the other 2395 swimmers. Then I just look straight down while swimming and concentrate on sighting the next buoy. Or, I just follow the feet in front of me and focus on them so anybody else around me is of no concern. |
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Re: Re: Ironman Swim Start
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Alison
BC
Member Since:
04/04/2006 Total Posts: 349
2.2 Years Ago
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Thanks Jim.
What you're suggesting is what I'm aiming for but so far concept and reality haven't quite worked out to be the same. Guess I just need to get out in the water in crowds and work it out. Maybe I'll get my clubmates to beat me up in our open water swim this weekend! |
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John
AZ
Member Since:
09/21/2005 Total Posts: 20
2.2 Years Ago
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I have only seen the start of two IM's (AZ) but this brief video might help a little.
http://dump.segv.org/movies/swim-training.mpg
But seriously, I was a volunteer for the swim in IMAZ last year and there is some hope. If you are a strong swimmer get out in front and stay out there. If swimming isn't your strong area, I think it is easier to stay to the sides rather than in the back. However, after saying that the back of the group is less crowed than the middle and you are less likely to get run over. After the first mile the field really starts to spread out.
Another hint, I don't know how IMC will work, but we were told that swimmers didn't really have to swim inside the buoys marking the course. (We had to make sure that they didn't wander too far off course) Only at the turns did you have to go around the big buoys. Several people swam just to the outside of the buoys where it was much less crowded.
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Kim
VA
Member Since:
10/27/2005 Total Posts: 202
2.2 Years Ago
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I've started on either the far left or right flank of every IM I've done. It works everytime. Don't start on the inside flank or you'll be crushed at the first bouy. Always start on the outside flank. This is a about a 100 yds longer but well worth the reduced stress of having your goggles ripped off your head or being kicked in the face. |
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Re: Re: Ironman Swim Start
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Jimbo
FL
Member Since:
01/03/2005 Total Posts: 667
2.2 Years Ago
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I LOVE that video. I watch it all the time and laugh out loud. |
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Re: Re: Ironman Swim Start
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Alison
BC
Member Since:
04/04/2006 Total Posts: 349
2.2 Years Ago
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Thanks for the advice.
John, I'm not a fast swimmer so I figured I'd sit myself on the beach and start to wander into the water after the horn had gone, going at or near the back as you suggested. Although the organizers may mess up this plan by having wave starts next year. As to staying inside/outside the buoys, I think there are only two (no loops on the course) so that's won't be an issue for the first 25 minutes or so of the swim.
Kim, I figured out the flank thing the hard way in my half IM this summer. At the start I picked the least crowded side (the inside flank) and then got crushed at the first turn. I should've realized the experienced people were starting at the outside for a reason! I'll definitely take the extra distance and swim to the outside rather than deal with the stress of being in the middle.
And I love that video! Someone posted it on my club's blog a while ago and I got such a kick out of it. |
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