hmmm... are you sure that you are going a 1/2 mile? 30 minutes for 880 yards? you might be having tracking issues. current and tide could be affecting your swim. it's not a fast time for that distance, but it's not terrible either. open water swims take some getting used to, especially ocean ones. swells and current, (not to mentions waves and wind) all play havoc with your normal time. if you are kicking butt in the pool but feel you are slow in the open, you could try putting a GPS in a ziplock and sticking it under your swim cap to get an accurate assessment of your swimming.. . you might be swimming faster than you think.

TdB -- have you tried the GPS in cap thing? I'm nervous about it since although Garmin claims the Forerunner 301 is waterproof to some depth I trust it in no water. I guess I'm worried that the ziplock will leak and my toy will die...

Is it out and back? or out and along the shoreline?
Are there lots of waves coming in? or is it in calmer waters?

Lots of things to factor in. You will probably have a slowere time.
Big difference from a pool, and even quite a bit of difference from lake or bay water where you don't have waves to contend with.

Thanks for your replies...it is at Zuma Beach...the ocean could be entirely flat or larger waves. I think that is what is making me so nervous.

I've talked to several people who swim and surf with their 301 under their swimcap or wetsuit. One of the founders of motionbased.com (VERY cool site, especially if you have a 301) told me that he never surfs without his. As long as its in a baggie it should be fine.

Regarding swimming with a heartrate monitor, I'm told that technically it works but I've never been able to get a good reading. You shouldn't press any buttons on you HRM watch while underwater though, water can get in pretty easily and ruin your watch.

I don't have a GPS but I do have a Timex HRM. It is Water Resistant to 50 meters.

It has been thru quite a bit and I have worn it in salt and fresh water. I can press the buttons underwater and have had no problems with leakage.

Is yours supposed to be Water Resistant??

Sometimes being in the water or maybe it is the wetsuit must interfere with the transmission from the HRM around my chest to the watch. I sometimes get no Data.

Hey Outdoorgirl,

You are doing the best thing and getting a feel for it yourself.
Are you swimming by yourself or are you having somebody watch you?

If you are a little bit uncomfortable I would definitely have somebody around.
If you can't and you need to swim don't go too far out from shore and swim paralell.

I have to swim solo a lot and I use one of those rescue cans that lifeguards have. Just in case.
here is the link.http://www.kiefer.com/Kiefer/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=620043&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D222%26Tree%3D%2CWater%20Safety%20Shop&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D91%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D0%2CRescue%20Gear&HSLB=False&mscssid=0044920B136D3649918408B9FD62B5EC

Did you check out the clinic they are having on the 17th? Might be helpful to get some tips.

1/2 hour isn't so bad.
As you practice and get your technique down and get used to the open water you will get better.

:cool:

The rescue can has a line about 7 feet long which is attached to a looped strap.
You put the loop over your head so it is on one shoulder.

As you swim it floats behind you.

I do most of my open water swims with my wetsuit so I don't even feel it.
Once in awhile I have swam without the wetsuit and it isn't that bad either.
I wear a rash guard shirt that surfers wear and I don't really feel it.

For a challenging workout (not by my choice) my kids will hang on it while I swim.
They are disappointed I don't go fast when towing them. :D

scott...just out of curiosity do you swim in the ocean in NJ? Thanks again for all the assistance. I actually may recommend one of these to my coach to use for some of the not so sure of themself swimmers. There are a couple of older ladies on my team that take a very very long time to finish the swim course.