does the swim course have cables run b/t buoys (like Lake Placid) that would eliminate need for sighting?
Not sure but all the video and pictures I’ve seen of the IMAZ swim makes it look like it’s on glass so it should be fairly easy to sight.
The Tempe Town Lake is so narrow that it is easy to sight. The only problem you would have is the sun on the way out.
The swim is very calm. Depending if you your swim ablilites, I noticed that on my way back in the water seemed a bit more rough. I was talking to a pro that is from AZ and he said the same thing. His theory was that, since it is so narrow, all the swimmers on the other side create small current.
Mat
<does the swim course have cables run b/t buoys (like Lake Placid) that would eliminate need for sighting? >
Unfortunately it doesnt.
It is fairly easy to sight off the bridge/buoys though.
As you can see from the swim map the river wall is not parallel to the swim course ,so try not to sight off of it,or you might find yourself swimming a little off course.
Ditto the other posters. I found the sun to be a factor going out, but on the return back you can align yourself with a wall and it is vrey easy to stay straight.
It’s a great swim venue. I’ve swam in the lake for many events. It is almost always calm, but if the wind blows from the East, the water can get quite choppy. Sighting is easy at TTL. Having the wall on your right, as well as a mountain and a stadium, its one of the easiest venues I’ve seen for sighting.
So we don’t need to sight often, which is good. Now how about tips to swim in the murky water. Since, I assume, we all mostly train in pools, it’s hard for me to adjust to the dark brown water. Ive swam twice in the lake so far and both times I get pretty disorientated and kinda nervous ass oon as the cannon goes off. Is there anything I can do in the pool to help come raceday?
The water in AZ last year was murky but not horrible. I could see a foot or so maybe. The worst is under the bridge in the shade, then it is like being in chocolate milk. The sun can be tough but the bridges make for easy sighting with those big pillars and the sides are close enough you can sort of tell where you are by how far off the bank you are since they are straight. I would go to the Gatorade swims and get some practice in for sure. Is your panic from just the dark water or not being able to swim straight? Practice your sighting in the pool, go to the Gatorade swims and just relax… IMO the water there is not that bad
Actually its both. I’m more nervous about the murky water rather than swimming straight. I seem to get so flustered with not being able to see anything underwater that I get extremely anxious. Also, what are the Gatorade swims? Ive never heard of these before. Thanks!
The water in AZ last year was murky but not horrible. I could see a foot or so maybe. The worst is under the bridge in the shade, then it is like being in chocolate milk. The sun can be tough but the bridges make for easy sighting with those big pillars and the sides are close enough you can sort of tell where you are by how far off the bank you are since they are straight. I would go to the Gatorade swims and get some practice in for sure. Is your panic from just the dark water or not being able to swim straight? Practice your sighting in the pool, go to the Gatorade swims and just relax… IMO the water there is not that bad
I seem to get so flustered with not being able to see anything underwater that I get extremely anxious.
There’s nothing to see. No lane lines, no Mirror Lake underwater ropes. Just get in, swim past the far bridge to the turnaround, swim back, climb out on the steps.
Also, what are the Gatorade swims?
They are practice swims in the days before the race, sponsored by Gatorade. You can swim the course in the morning while the Gatorade guys watch your stuff. Tom Z. and a crew of volunteers staff the booth, watch your stuff and give out Gatorade.
Good Luck.
I’ll be there again this year.
Jeff
MARTY: Let’s talk about your reviews a little bit. Regarding ‘Intravenus de Milo’: “This tasteless cover is a good
indication of the lack of musical invention within. The musical growth rate of this band cannot even be
charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry.”
NIGEL: That’s, that’s nit-picking, isn’t it?
That map is not accurate though. Take a look at a satellite shot and you will see that the lake is sort of S shaped. The shortest distance to swim is not next to the markers, and there is a pinch point right after the start. The markers themselves do not run in a straight line, but follow the curve of the lake.
Article of interest in the East Valley Tribune today:
Tempe News Tempe plans to raise quality of Town Lake By Garin Groff, Tribune December 26, 2006 Tempe will begin diverting enormous amounts of water around its Town Lake this spring to keep bad water from fouling swimming events that draw people from across the nation. Related Links Today's Top Stories
News
Tempe
The city plans to pump water after a year when bad water quality forced Tempe to cancel one event and change two others.
Tempe has already tried pumping water and treating it with chemicals. Neither did the trick.
The latest pumping effort will carry much more — 15 million to 20 million gallons a day — and should ensure swimmers aren’t left high and dry again, said Nancy Ryan, Rio Salado project manager.
“We do have a high level of confidence that it’s not going to be a problem,” she said.
The issue is a smaller lake that’s formed east of Town Lake. It spills dirtier water into the larger lake, fostering algae growth and making the water unsafe for swimming.
The pumping should lower that smaller lake by perhaps two feet and make it easier to control pH levels, said Basil Boyd, a water resources hydrologist for the city.
The city monitors pollution levels by testing the water’s pH, a measure of acidity in the water. Tempe considers the lake safe for swimmers if pH levels are 9.0 or lower. If levels exceed that, there are health risks, from eye irritation to bacterial infection.
Tempe tried pumping water earlier this year through a storm drain on the lake’s south side. Most of the pipe is large, but a 12-inch section on the east end restricted the flow to 3.5 million gallons a day.
That was a relative drop in the bucket compared with how much water pools to the east. The water comes from storm drains that carry runoff from streets in several cities, from mining operations in the river bed and from a reclamation plant in Mesa. Those sources have higher pH levels than the lake’s source, delivered through Salt River Project canals.
The smaller lake formed after the normally dry Salt River flowed in 2005. When the river stopped flowing, the small lake didn’t go away — much to the surprise of water experts in Tempe and Mesa.
“We don’t know why it’s still there,” said Bill Haney, director of Mesa’s water division.
Mesa will eliminate the water it puts in the river by February or March. That amounts to 4 million gallons a day, which will instead be pumped into an underground storage project. That won’t put a dent in the small lake’s size, Haney said, because the storm drains are vastly larger sources of water.
But Tempe’s pumps will divert enough water, Boyd said. The effort will cost about $600,000 a year for pump rental and fuel. The pumps will run from March through May and again from September to November, when triathlons and other swimming events are held. The city won’t use the pumps in winter or summer, allowing the water to flow into the lake at a time when swimmers don’t use it.
Tempe relied on chemicals this year to lower pH but had mixed results. The city moved one event to a pool and canceled another because the pH rose above 9.0, the federal safety standard. The treatments lasted about a week and dropped the levels into the safe range.
Even with pumping, Basil expects the pH will get too high at times. But by eliminating the flow of dirtier water when swimmers are in the lake, the pH will stay lower and treatments will last longer. “You’re going to require treatments perhaps a couple times each swimming season,” Boyd said. Contact Garin Groff by email, or phone (480) 898-5938
I think you just have to spend some time in the murky depths:) Seriously, I think this is just one of those things that gets better with experience in that type of water. The article posted above is interesting and hopefully it will result in a visible difference in the water. Again, I didn’t think it was as bad as some made it out to be but it is dark. If you go to the IMAZ site and check the event schedule from last year you can get an idea of when the swims start during the week. Go to the swims and just spend some time getting comfortable.
The turn around was probably the roughest part in my swim
If you are not aware of the entrance and exit, the entrance is a cannonball into the lake and a tread water start, the exit is up some stairs over the wall. I would be sure to take a look at the steps.
Exit:
I would also get down there early in the morning the week of so you can see what that sun is like.
from the bridge;
As Cat suggested it is very easy to sight by using the bridgs and going out… the power line towers…they line up right on the turn bouy (or they did last year).
Then on the return focus on the bridge pillar nearest the bouy. Real simple after that, head down and paddle!
Who cares about how murky the water is? In a typical open water swim, can you really see the bottom anyway? Are you from Hawaii or some other tropical paradise where the water is 50 ft. deep and you can see every fish in the ocean clear to the bottom?
It makes a difference. For example, at the IMNZ swim the water is very clear. You can sight by following the ridges in the sand 40 feet below which run parallel to the shore, so you really never have to look forward. Also, you can see the swimmers around you much easier, so you can find good feet to draft, avoid swimming into people, other people avoid you, etc. I guess that would not be “typical”, but clear water does help.