On the heels of the IMC swim start thread, I’d like to ask the same questions about IM Wisconsin. Anyone have advice based on past experiences with seeding choice? I know the scrum is pretty much unavoidable. But, I don’t want to go too far away from the buoy line, in an effort to avoid contact. In fact, I’m contemplating swimming inside the line down the straightaways. Not sure about that yet. I do plan to ask around once in the water, get a feel for what pace people are expecting, and try to seed myself front-to-back that way.
I started way right (say, 50 ft right of the ski jump), about 5 “rows” back. I was somewhat nervous after hearing what a slug fest it is out there on the swim start, so I didn’t want to be anywhere near the middle.
I was really surprised, when after about 50 meters, I was pretty much alone. Very little contact, and pretty much a straight line to the first buoy. It was really congested around that first buoy though.
I ended up going 1:05. I would recommend going on the outside if you’re at all nervous about the head banging at the start. It’s worth going the extra distance IMO.
I’ve done IMWI twice, with swim times were 65 and 62 minutes respectively. My goal both times was to take the swim as a moderate effort.
The first year, I was close to the buoys, about 10-15 rows back. I found that I was too far back for my pace, it was crazy until roughly the second (left) turn. In an effort to limit the avoid the crowd, I found myself swimming the inside (to the left) of the buoys and re-entering the masses as I rounded the corners. By the time I had rounded the third buoy there was much cleaner water to be had, but fighting the traffic to that point took more energy than I had intended to use.
Last year, I was very close to the ski jump and was almost to the very front row, which proved to be much better. there was some immediate churn, but beyond that, the effort was far easier and I could hug the buoys in mostly clear water throughout.
I started in pretty much the same spot as Dreamer, swam about 2 minutes slower, and had pretty much the same experience. I was virtually alone until the first turn buoy. It was great!
Where’s the best place to start if you want to do a :55 minute swim…but more importantly really want to draft off some people. I’m a solid swimmer and just want to make sure i come out as fresh as humanly possible.
My plan was to get close to the bouys and maybe a few rows back depending on what people said their pace was.
Great input thanks. If you don’t mind a couple follow up questions:
Did you start the “diagonal” right away or swim straight for a while then angle in. Did you run into any problems from your left/behind as you were making this angle in?
Do you think starting in row 1-4 would have made any difference (better or worse) in terms of getting clear water and sighting?
EDIT: 3) in hindsight would you have taken the first turn wider?
way right is safest. on the buoy line you’ll get hammered!
odd, I’ve found completely the opposite. Every year I have started very near to the ski jump, on the line. I am slow ( 1:15-1:20 ), but I had very little traffic, even at the turns. I was so close to the line that I almost hit every buoy ( sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right LOL )
I think the best spot to start is to the right of the ski ramp. I swam right at an hour btw. You can hold onto the ramp and just wait for the last minute before the start. Also, you have about 100-200 yds before the people on the left side of the ramp and you converge.
I start at the inside buoy - maybe a few feet off, in the front row. Swimming a 55, you might want to start in the second or third row - but in that general area - if you start drifting to far away from the buoy I’d imagine you’ll have some “fast” slow people to deal with there.
After having done madison a couple of times - I found it’s easier to show up closer to the start of the race and make a spot, then to get out there early and defend a spot.
Great input thanks. If you don’t mind a couple follow up questions:
Did you start the “diagonal” right away or swim straight for a while then angle in. Did you run into any problems from your left/behind as you were making this angle in?
Do you think starting in row 1-4 would have made any difference (better or worse) in terms of getting clear water and sighting?
EDIT: 3) in hindsight would you have taken the first turn wider?
Thanks
I went pretty much straight (parallel with the buoys) about half the distance, then started angling in. I remember watching the great masses of people to my left, thinking “wow, I’m glad I’m not over there”. As I said before though, it did start getting crowded around the first buoy. Got kicked/hit several times in that area.
No, I don’t think so. I think you are better off seeding yourself slightly behind where you should be, as opposed to slightly ahead. That way you avoid getting run over from behind. (I seeded myself about 5 rows back last year in LP, and had pretty much the same experience, and went 1:01). If you’re thinking 1:15, I would recommend about 8-10 rows back (although the concept of “rows” is very subjective).
There’s really no need to take that first buoy really tight. Try aiming like 10 meters to the outside of it. That’s what I’ll be doing this year.
Thinking 1:05-1:08. Planning to start around where you did and stay outside until about 1/2 way down then angle in. Planning to take first 2 buoys a little wide then move to the buoy line on the back stretch
Learning to comfortably breath to either side has increased my confidence a lot vs. 2007. I started out in this area but could only breath to my right comfortably and found it hard to make that angle in. Stayed too far outside whole time…