OPEN WATER ARTICLE FROM THE NEWS-PRESS

  Alex Meyer said ability alone won't win a person Saturday's 10-kilometer Crippen Cup Open Water Marathon at Miromar Lakes in Estero.

Flexibility and adaptability also are keys.

"You can have a plan but be prepared to toss it out of the window," he said. "Everyone swims the race differently. It helps to know what your strengths and weaknesses are, who you're swimming against and what they're good at and not good at.

"It's not like swimming in a pool where you have lanes. You may decide to take the first half easy and then come on strong but if a quarter of the way through three guys break away from the pack, you won't win if you stick to your original plan." read more...