Any tampa/st. pete natives on the forum that do regular open water swims? If so, details?
You might already be aware of this but I am thinking Ron Collins is involved with a group that siwms around Fort Desoto, or he would know who does.
Pretty good group meets Wed nights at 6:00 in Pass-A-Grille. Walks a mile from the rec center/church up to the Don hotel and swims back. Some people run after or just hang out and have a beer. Details on the Mad Dog team’s website.
I think there is a Clearwater swim sometime during the weekend.
Wednesday nights we start walking up the beach at 6pm and then swim the mile back from the Don Cesar hotel. OR, some of us (me only), get there at 6:10 and have to sprint up the beach to catch up for a little run-swim-run.
Clearwater has a Tuesday or Thursday night group that swims by Pier 60. If you don’t require a group to get some swims in, go to:
Gandy Beach (aka Redneck Riviera), it’s a 2 mile straight in 3.5-4’ of water, so up and back gives you some really good mileage. WARNING: do not swim past the power lines. Then you’re in Bull shark territory and you don’t want to be there.
The Lagoon at Weedon Island preserve. Only thing you’ll have to worry about there is the occasional boat coming back from the bay, but it’s a no-wake zone, so they’ll be moving slow
Spa Beach in Downtown St. Pete, or anywhere near North Shore pool. This area is where St. Anthony’s has had their swim courses over the past however many years.
Then you could just go to any beach and swim parallel to the beach by the bouys. Don’t go far out and back, just go 100 yds or so out and swim parallel. We have sharks, shore fishermen, and worse, spring breakers on jet skis.
Check this weeks newsletter from Team Psych at www.teampsychtri.com for the schedule of their open water swims at Clearwater Beach (Sat/Sun). Check www.trifloyd.com for his weekly Wednesday afternoon swims in Tampa Bay. As long as you swim within the boat line along Clearwater Beach, Sand Key Beach, Mad Beach, St Pete Beach, etc, it’s very safe. Many times, I’ve just done my own OWS at the beach when I take the family. Just stay within the boat line and head north or south until you are ready to turn around.
Pretty good group meets Wed nights at 6:00 in Pass-A-Grille. Walks a mile from the rec center/church up to the Don hotel and swims back. Some people run after or just hang out and have a beer. Details on the Mad Dog team’s website.
I think there is a Clearwater swim sometime during the weekend.
What is the pace like on these swims? (Asking everyone) And what is the water like? (i.e cant see your hand in front of your face, clear, sharky, etc.)
Wednesday nights we start walking up the beach at 6pm and then swim the mile back from the Don Cesar hotel. OR, some of us (me only), get there at 6:10 and have to sprint up the beach to catch up for a little run-swim-run.
Clearwater has a Tuesday or Thursday night group that swims by Pier 60. If you don’t require a group to get some swims in, go to:
Gandy Beach (aka Redneck Riviera), it’s a 2 mile straight in 3.5-4’ of water, so up and back gives you some really good mileage. WARNING: do not swim past the power lines. Then you’re in Bull shark territory and you don’t want to be there.
The Lagoon at Weedon Island preserve. Only thing you’ll have to worry about there is the occasional boat coming back from the bay, but it’s a no-wake zone, so they’ll be moving slow
Spa Beach in Downtown St. Pete, or anywhere near North Shore pool. This area is where St. Anthony’s has had their swim courses over the past however many years.
Then you could just go to any beach and swim parallel to the beach by the bouys. Don’t go far out and back, just go 100 yds or so out and swim parallel. We have sharks, shore fishermen, and worse, spring breakers on jet skis.
Do you mean the radio towers. I’m having trouble picturing the power lines, as there are a lot of different types there.
Wednesday nights we start walking up the beach at 6pm and then swim the mile back from the Don Cesar hotel. OR, some of us (me only), get there at 6:10 and have to sprint up the beach to catch up for a little run-swim-run.
Clearwater has a Tuesday or Thursday night group that swims by Pier 60. If you don’t require a group to get some swims in, go to:
Gandy Beach (aka Redneck Riviera), it’s a 2 mile straight in 3.5-4’ of water, so up and back gives you some really good mileage. WARNING: do not swim past the power lines. Then you’re in Bull shark territory and you don’t want to be there.
The Lagoon at Weedon Island preserve. Only thing you’ll have to worry about there is the occasional boat coming back from the bay, but it’s a no-wake zone, so they’ll be moving slow
Spa Beach in Downtown St. Pete, or anywhere near North Shore pool. This area is where St. Anthony’s has had their swim courses over the past however many years.
Then you could just go to any beach and swim parallel to the beach by the bouys. Don’t go far out and back, just go 100 yds or so out and swim parallel. We have sharks, shore fishermen, and worse, spring breakers on jet skis.
What are the paces and distances, and what is the water like where these swims are?
Anyone??
I only do the Wed night swims at Pass-A-Grille and everything depends on the weather really. Conditions have been pretty dang rough past few weeks so clarity has been down with the chop way up! Pace would vary from about 20mins to 40 I would say. Really a mixed bag of swimmers out there so you will have someone to swim with/near at any pace.