Arizona Ironman swim start

[gumi]

It gets a little uncomfortable at 90 seconds and kinda hard to watch at 2 minutes.
It breaks my heart to see people cling to the side of the lake and I distinctly remember a few years ago feeling sorry for just a handful of people. This year, two hours in, there were still a lot of people in the lake. I just don't understand why everyone wants to do this crazy race to begin with, especially if you cannot swim.

[joenali]

My sentiments exactly. There were some people toward the end that looked like they were not going to make it at all. It's 2.4 miles people! WITH 2000 other swimmers in the water who all start together. It can throw off even the most experienced swimmer if you aren't used to it.

I have to say though, my Ironman swim was one of the best OWS I have ever had. But I grew up swimming, and I trained my ass off in open water at least twice a week, and one pool swim per week to get ready for IM.

[Susie]

Oh my. I hope it doesn't sound super hypocritical of me (as a swimmer) to say, but I am so frustrated with how little respect people have for the distance and conditions in the swim part of tris. I know a lot of breath is spent on people talking about swim anxiety, but I don't see the accompanying action to improve. Just lots of "hope I survive it!" It seems like it's more acceptable among triathletes to be weak swimmers (to the point of struggling to finish the leg?) than to, e.g., have poor bike handling skills. I am not entirely sure where that attitude came from, but it's so dangerous.

[joenali]

Nov 20, 2014 16:02:07 GMT -5 Susie said:

Oh my. I hope it doesn't sound super hypocritical of me (as a swimmer) to say, but I am so frustrated with how little respect people have for the distance and conditions in the swim part of tris. I know a lot of breath is spent on people talking about swim anxiety, but I don't see the accompanying action to improve. Just lots of "hope I survive it!" It seems like it's more acceptable among triathletes to be weak swimmers (to the point of struggling to finish the leg?) than to, e.g., have poor bike handling skills. I am not entirely sure where that attitude came from, but it's so dangerous.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

[gumi]

It's crazy too because the buoys are not on the side of the lake so these poor people are adding quite a bit of distance to the swim.

LOLOLOL you know something is whack when *i* get elitist about SWIMMING.

[joenali]

I think the 2:20 cutoff is a little generous, but I did use that time as a bit of a cushion for my bike time, lol!

[mrs.jacinthe]

You know, I volunteer for a lot of tris (as water safety) and I've seen a lot of crazy things, but the *worst* swimmers I've seen have been at Ironman. I think for a lot of people, the relatively short amount of time in the water versus bike or run makes them overconfident and they undertrain, and quite a few of them weren't good swimmers to begin with. Don't get me wrong - there are also really great, confident swimmers who are a thing of beauty to watch from above and there are more decent swimmers than not. However, the undertrained and overconfident part means that those poor swimmers self seed WAY too far forward in the pack and are then getting swum over/beat up, which probably compounds the swim anxiety.

[kams]

Do you guys remember me telling you about the guy who was local to me who raced IMTX and wasn't sure he could finish them swim? He actually turned back to get a snorkel, restarted, and then walked through parts of the shallow canal.

It blows my mind from a safety standpoint, primarily, but also just as a competitor. Don't you want to be at least capable of completing it, and giving it your best?

I have to say, my ironman swim was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done. The mass start is so raw and intense, and after that rush it becomes the most peaceful, quiet part of the day. Certainly the easiest, in most cases (ie no severe weather and competent at all 3 disciplines).

I get a little purist about bring capable of swimming any race distance though, sprint included.

ETA: I would never discourage someone from getting in to triathlon just because they can't swim. But I do wholeheartedly think that instruction and/or training for the swim Is essential, just as I would say you have to be comfortable and safe when riding a bike.

[pixy0stix]

o.O

That's really all I got, because these mass starts scare the bejeebers out of me. I would never, ever attempt one without serious training.