Crash course in swimming

[Starfish]

I think everyone has covered this well...just gonna throw in my (limited) experience, 'cause, well this is a discussion forum!

First, I have never done a Tri.

But, about swimming: I used to be a competitive swimmer a million years ago in school, and then a million years ago in my 20s with Masters. I swam distance, and was not anywhere near the top of my team, but not horrible. My 200 free time in the pool was 2:20 or so, and 2:38 or so for 200 IM. 500 free about 6:30 minutes. Maybe 12 minutes for 800. Now I'm in my forties. I rarely swam at all through my 30s, so although I am a swimmer and a cyclist, I got OUT of shape for swimming. There is a big difference. (Edited to add that I mention the times to make the point that I can't imagine how long an 800 in the pool would take me now, let alone open water...I know I would find it VERY tiring without having trained. And, not a chance I could do those times now.)

This past February, I decided to do some cross training in the pool during the crummy weather. I was astounded at how out of shape I was for the pool. It was a wake-up. Now, over a 2 month period, swimming about twice a week, I bounced back...not anywhere near to competition speed or fitness ...but my stamina built up a little bit before I quit swimming again to do the bike. But, after being away so long, it took more than 2 weeks before a steady 800 felt anything like normal. And, of course that's pool, not open water. And I'm an experienced swimmer. And, when I pushed it, I felt those familiar little leg cramp twinges, reminding me that flutter kick, dolphin kick, breast stroke kick are a whole different ball game than spinning circles on a bike.

So, although I'm not a Triathlete (yet ), I thing the ladies here have given good advice. Most folks don't just jump in and do a straight 800 easily if they haven't been swimming. Even the 400 might be a challenge, I don't know.

(If you do the swim, consider checking out a 2-beat kick or a 4-beat cross to keep from toasting your legs if you're not used to it.)

Be safe. An ill-timed cramp in open water would be nothing to play with. Sorry this got so long.