To swim inside or outside buoys?

harrast

I was talking to an ENer on my way home from IMFL in 2011 who told me that he liked to swim inside the buoys where it was a little quieter (I assume that he swam outside the corner buoys when he got to them).  While this might work some of the time, it seems like those kayak guys might make this difficult because they seem to position themselves inside the buoys on the swim course.  I'm wondering if any one has had experience with swimming inside the course, good or bad.  Personally, I've been blown inside the course during one race, but that was one of those crazy days.  It just seems to me that if this works, everybody would do it and soon it would be just as congested inside as outside the buoys. 

[Deleted User]

At Lake Placid in 2011 I swam inside the buoys. It was not intentional at first, but I kind of got "guided" over there by the crowd. It worked out great - I was able to stay just to the left of the cable (an underwater buoy line that you can swim along so you don't have to sight). I could see the massive turmoil on the other side of the cable a mere 15 or so feet away, but I was in relative quiet! Many people try to get next to that cable (and generally to the right of it). At one point I tried to merge to the right side, but it was so chaotic that I went back to the left side, and stayed there the rest of the swim. I did have to merge into the pack to get around the corner buoys, which was tough. It was packed so tight going around the buoys that nobody was really swimming - more or less hanging vertical and being pulled around the buoy by the current.

I plan on swimming inside the buoys when I do Lake Placid again in 2013.

Robert Sabo

Similar experience at IMLP multiple years.  It is almost part of my plan.  Please don't spread this around too much.  The ENers at IMLP alone could crowd the inside.

Sue Chapman

Yes to swimming inside the bouys - did it at IMWI last year and it was much calmer. Yes, a little difficult getting back around the bouys but worth it. The some of the kayaks were inside as well but there was still plenty of room between them and the bouys. It will be part of my plan next year as well.

Al Truscott

This is not legal at all IM races ... imperative to get the policy from the race director at the athlete's meeting or the athlete's guide ahead of time, or risk the rare swimming penalty.

That said, I have done this on occasion, and found the absolute BEST place to swim is to aim right for the buoys - no one wants to hit them, so the water is generally clear. I just slither under the buoy if pressed on either side. Keeping my eyes open for the anchor cable, of course. Gives a little break to the monotony of stroking.

rpickard

I swam inside the bouys at IMAZ last Sunday " as much as I could then came out around the change of direction bouys or turn bouys. Yes you are correct some Kiacks do position themselves to block this but most don't. I did get blocked a couple of times but out of all the bouys I was able to keep them on my right side. Fairly smooth water most of the way. Yes people will join you because they did me last week.

IanPowell

Huh. I will try his next time. I've heard of swimming inside but I've never thought of swimming directly towards them. Interesting. Thank you. The current at IMFL caused my decision to start too far right than I think I should have.

GMAN 19030

As Al mentioned it is not legal at all swims. It is not legal at Kona or IMTX for example. That's due to the narrow out and back nature of the swim courses.

jbarre03

x3 on what Al and Bob said. I've been in races where they were very specific about not swimming inside the bouys, but for the most part, I've alway found swimming inside the buoys legal and a huge reflief from the pack. I did 70% of the IMLP swim inside the bouys and felt like I was by myself most of the time. The other 30% was right on the line, as Al mentioned. If it's legal I will always shoot for the inside the bouys!!!

Michael Johnson

I swam many times inside of the buoys at IMAZ this year. I did make the turn buoys correctly. Nobody in kayaks said anything or tried to move me outside of buoys. I believe it's a big help to stay away from the pack.

richmiani

At Lake Placid last year, I had the benefit of Jim Daley's experience from the year before but I still decided to swim with the crowd ... my logic was that the energy savings from the draft was worth more to me than a "quiet swim". I guess it depends on your comfort level with the scrum (disclaimer:  I am  not  a fast swimmer and this was my first IM)

Jenn Edwards

I've had great success of swimming just at or just inside of the bouys. I've started far outside and even crossed (carefully and politely) the entire channel of traffic to do so with three IM splits in the 1:05 range. I even make a little game for myself to high-five a corner quickly as I go by. I love giving high-fives on the run so this is how I find a way to do it swim as well. It's kind of a nice little mental change up.  As Al said, very few people seem to want to go right under the buoys - I have no problem with that.... As for the corners - just gotta keep your elbows up and go for it.