Miami Man

[betagirl]

So...................

My friend talked me into doing a 1/2 duathalon "aquabike" in Miami in November. He's doing the 1/2 tri with his friend and I was commenting on how I'd love to do a swim/bike event but can never find one. Lo and behold, my intro to aquabike

It's a 1.2 mile swim and 43 mile bike from what I can gather. I'm not at all worried about the bike bit. I've got over 2000 miles in so far this season. The swim? It's been a while. I was a swimmer in high school, and loved the long distance events. I've never really "lost" it, but I surely don't have the lungs I once had. So it's time for me to start training. I have 3 months.

Lise - Do you ever train in that section of Lake Michigan where they have it roped off? I'm thinking that'll be a good place for me to train.

I'm excited and a bit nervous. I know Tri's are a whole different beast than just doing 1 event. My knees will never let me run unfortunately. Or fortunately, depending on how you look at it

So, I'll probably be haunting this board also for a while. I have a feeling I'm going to get hooked on this.

[Lise]

BETA!!! Welcome! (Oh, yeah, you're being assimilated into the Borg--I mean triathlon board--even as you read this!)

(where's the emoticon for evil laughter...?! )

I *do* swim down there by Ohio St. beach sometimes. It is a great place to do open water swims. Word to the wise: Don't leave your stuff on the sand. Only because that is some of the stickiest sand I've ever encountered. If you come out of the water onto the sand, you will be washing sand off for days. Now I understand why people leave their stuff by their bikes and climb back out of the water at the ladder closest to the beach. There's a bouy 1/4 of a mile out. There may be another one further along, heck if I'd know, I've never swum farther out than that!

It is wonderful that you were a competitive swimmer. That is the hardest part for me, so you will do fine. Aquabike races were invented for people who can't do the run for whatever reason. It sounds great. I'm really happy for you.

[KSH]

Cool!

We have an Aquabike/ Half Ironman series here in September. Basically the same distances you mentioned.

I was going to do it... but unfortunately I can't afford the entry fee. They are charging the Aquabike $175... the same price at someone doing the Half Ironman. Ugh.

Best of luck with doing it!

If you were a swimmer in H.S. you will get up to speed very quickly on the swimming. I trained 1 day a week for about 2-3 months for my 1.2 mile swim and completed it in about 35 minutes... even with piss-poor sighting.

You will do just great!

[betagirl]

Thanks for the tip Lise. I suppose I could start swim training today since I have to go down to Northwestern.....Gotta dig up my swim suit and cap/goggles.

I was doing some reading about the swim bit on some websites and they mentioned the sighting skill. I guess this is where that lifeguard training I did will come in handy. They used to make us swim laps upon laps with our heads above the water. If I've done the math right, a 1 mile swim is 70 laps in a 25 yard pool. I used to swim the 500 yd freestyle which was 20 laps. Hey only have to do 3.5 of those!

[LynneK]

If you're going to be downtown today anyway, you might want to check and see if Fleet Feet still has room in their (free!) 6 PM open water swim clinic tonight at Ohio St. Beach. I'll be there. You could call them or check the website; I signed up online, I believe via the Accenture website.

BTW, hi to everyone ... I've been lurking for ages. Got back into tri last year after an 18-year hiatus of grad school, soccer, ice hockey, cycling only, and finally back to tri. I believe several of you are doing Accenture Chicago, as am I (the sprint, too busy to train for the Oly!).

[betagirl]

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'm having difficulty locating my swimsuit But if I find it I'll try to make it.

[Lise]

Hi, Lynne! Glad to welcome you out of lurkdom! I see you live in my hometown! What part of town do you live in? Please go up to the "Getting to know you" thread in the Open forum, and tell us all a little more about yourself.