Is anyone on here in the Northwest Arkansas area or Southwest Missouri area that knows somewhere to get an open water swim in? I could use a swim partner as well. I did my first open water swim this past weekend and definitly need a lot more practice.
Hit me up
Seth
I live in Hot Springs, AR. I’m about 2:45 from Fayetteville. I open water swim in both Lake Hamilton and Lake Ouachita all the time. If you and I ride/run comparable paces and you’d like to work in a weekend of training let me know. If you’re familiar with Hot Springs it’s a touristy little town. I’m sure you could find something a little closer though.
Seth,
Beaver Lake is the place to swim, several places on the lake. Also, go the Fayetteville TriSports for some options, too. www.trisportclub.com
Little early temp-wise for the lake, but we’ll be going regularly soon.
Isn’t there a lake up there, Lake Weddington, west of Fayetteville? There’s a triathlon up there, I have never done, coming up next month. They use that lake.
Thanks. I haven’t actually moved to fayetteville yet. Will be soon though, start law school in august, yuck.
Are you all doing the ozark valley Tri? I’ll be there. Also thinking about doing the de Gray Half in August. Any of you know anything about it?
Plan to be at Wedington for Ozark Valley, you’ll get a taste of the sea weed in the swim there. If you’re going to school in F’ville, you will want to hook up with TriSport group.
DeGray is a great race, except for one thing: August in South Arkansas…
Yep, Ozark Valley is a good race, but the lake was full of lake grass, at least for the first and last 150 yards of the swim last year. That was probably due to very little rain during the month leading up to the race. It is a good race, though. Also, I do not believe you can swim the actual swim course save and except for race day and the day leading up to the race. Usually, there is just a small swim area open. Beaver Lake is your best bet. As for Lake DeGray, I intend to do the half. I did the sprint last year and it was nicely done. I have heard the half is likewise nice, but hot! Best of luck in law school. I am an '01 grad.
DeGray isn’t south AR. It’s west central. Still hot though anywhere you’re at in AR in august however.
Last thing i want to do is argue with a fellow Arkansan about our state geography, but, certainly from NW Ar (topic of OP), it is, at least southern AR. Also, DeGray is, what less than 100 miles from south border & more than 200 from north. I do know what you mean, though, cause i know Hot Springs folks do not consider themselves to be in South AR. We do all agree about the August heat, course that’s part of what makes us all so tuff !!
That’s like saying at the northern apex of the earth everything below is southern earth and there is no North. Well, yeah.
OK. Not to be a dick, but I did a mapquest search on mileage. Hot Springs to Junction City (almost due south) 148 miles. That’s the boder of LA. Hot Springs to Burlington (almost due north) 161 miles. Northern border of AR. That’s about as dead central as you can get. So I can see why most people from Hot Springs would consider themselves central Arkansans’. But yes hot no matter how you slice it.
I’ve done Ozark Valley and Degray – both are good races. Now that someone else mentioned it, I do remember the Ozark Valley swim being a bit grassy. Other than that, good little race. The DeGray swim is EXCELLENT, albeit a bit warm in August. The water is so clear you can follow feet 5-10m in front of you underwater, seriously. It’s a great race though, but as others have said it’s H-O-T! Good luck.
That’s like saying at the northern apex of the earth everything below is southern earth and there is no North. Well, yeah.
No, more like saying everything south of equator is southern hemisphere, which it is. Driving distances reflect curves, etc. instead of just distance. Besides DeGray is several miles south of HS, too.
Anyway, i’ll give you south central, how’s that ??
The geographic center of Arkansas is
Latitude: 34° 48 Min. 9 Sec.
Longitude: -92° 18 Min. 1 Sec.
Hot Springs is less than 35 miles from that Geographic Center. Contrary to belief Little Rock is not the geographic center. Closer than Hot Springs but still not Geographic center. Geographic center is West of Little Rock. Hot Springs is Central AR. Not that it matters other than the fact that you’re wrong. Oh and BTW, Degray is only seven miles from my home. Still central.
so, is it 35 miles north or south of the center ? BTW, are you tapering ?