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Open Water Swim Racing

A first race and a supervised venue chosen, a wetsuit that fits, sighting, drafting and mass starts practised, cold water logged safely, and a route from a first 1500 m swim to 10 km marathons and channel crossings.

Free · Mac (Apple silicon) and Windows · v1.0.0 · Other platforms

Then open the Marketplace in the app, search for Open Water Swim Racing, and click Install. It goes into your own files, and works offline from then on.

Before you start: this plan is general information, not medical advice. Check with a doctor before starting a new training programme, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or are coming back from an injury, and stop if you feel pain, dizziness or chest discomfort.

What it installs.

1

Pillar

1

Area

50

Projects

201

Starter tasks

🏋️ Fitness & Sport

Open Water Swim Racing

Training for open water swims and races with acclimatisation, sighting, wetsuit practice and safety planning for lakes, rivers and the sea.

  1. Choosing your first open water race distance
  2. Health questions before cold water swimming
  3. Finding a supervised open water venue
  4. Choosing an open water swimming wetsuit
  5. Tow float, bright hat and visibility kit
  6. Open water safety plan and buddy rules
  7. Baseline pool time trial and first lake loop
  8. Open water swim log
  9. Weekly open water training week
  10. Race rules on wetsuits, feeding and the course
  11. Weekly open water session through the season
  12. Weekly pool endurance set
  13. Threshold intervals at critical swim speed
  14. Dryland shoulder and core work for swimmers
  15. Cold water acclimatisation in spring and autumn
  16. Conditions and water quality check before each swim
  17. Wetsuit care and repair routine
  18. Monthly long swim progression
  19. Monthly open water season review
  20. Winter pool block between seasons
  21. Sighting every six to nine strokes
  22. Bilateral breathing for chop, sun and swell
  23. Drafting on feet and hips
  24. Mass starts and deep water starts
  25. Turning around buoys in a crowd
  26. Beach starts, dolphin dives and exits
  27. Reading tides, currents and rip channels
  28. Calming panic and cold shock in the water
  29. Goggles for sun, low light and murky water
  30. Joining an open water club or coached group
  31. GPS watch set up for open water swims
  32. Raising stroke rate for open water
  33. Filming your open water stroke
  34. Race pacing plan from your threshold pace
  35. Racing in a wetsuit or in skins
  36. Twelve-week build to your first open water race
  37. Race week taper and kit checklist
  38. Race morning warm-up, briefing and course check
  39. Post-race debrief with your GPS track
  40. Feeding from a pontoon or kayak on long swims
  41. Travelling to a swim race or swim holiday
  42. Pool swimmer moving to open water for the first time
  43. Open water training on three hours a week
  44. Returning to open water after a season off
  45. Lake swimmer preparing for a sea race
  46. Escorting a swimmer by kayak or paddleboard
  47. Marathon swims of 10 km and beyond
  48. Channel or strait crossing application
  49. Six-hour cold water qualifying swim
  50. Winter and ice swimming events

Where it starts.

Each project arrives with its purpose, milestones and first tasks written out. Here is how the first three read.

Choosing your first open water race distance

Open water events run from 750 m dips to 10 km marathon swims, and the right first race is one you can already swim continuously in a pool with a quarter to spare. Picking the distance and the event early fixes the date your build works back from, and whether you will face a sheltered lake, a river with flow or the sea.

First tasks

  • List three open water events within a day's travel this season
  • Note each event's distance, water type and cut-off time
  • Time your longest continuous pool swim this week
  • Book the race or note the exact date entries open

Health questions before cold water swimming

Cold water raises heart rate and blood pressure sharply in the first minute, and people with heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy or high blood pressure are often asked to get clinical advice before swimming in it. A short conversation with your doctor before your first season means you get in knowing whether anything applies to you.

First tasks

  • Write down your conditions, medicines and any past fainting or chest pain
  • Book an appointment to ask about cold water swimming and racing
  • Record what your doctor advised at the front of your swim log
  • Reread your health notes before the season's first swim @recurring(yearly)

Finding a supervised open water venue

Training where there are lifeguards or safety kayaks, a marked loop and a posted water temperature removes most of the risk from early sessions. A venue with an induction and season membership also gives you a fixed weekly slot to build the rest of your training around.

First tasks

  • Search for supervised open water venues within 40 minutes of home
  • Compare session times, safety cover, loop length and cost
  • Book and attend the venue induction
  • Renew your venue membership before the season opens @recurring(yearly)

Make it yours.

Install Open Water Swim Racing, then tell Aurum the date you're aiming for. It checks whether the plan fits the weeks you actually have.

Free · Mac (Apple silicon) and Windows · v1.0.0 · Other platforms

Blueprints are general information to help you organise your own work. They are not medical, financial, legal or other professional advice. See the Terms.