Open Water Wednesdays

Open Water Wednesdays at Lake Meridian Park

Kent, WA 

6:30-7:30PM

June 3 - September 2, 2026 

Meet at the Picnic tables on the west side of the Lake Meridian boat launch parking lot.

Special edition: Open Water Wednesdays at Lake Tapps - Allan York Park on August 26th - 6:30-7:30PM

(No swims 6/24, 8/12, or 8/19)

20th Year OWW Anniversary Season!

Open Water Wednesdays (OWW) are one of the coolest traditions in the PNW triathlon community—coached open water swim workouts held at Lake Meridian Park in Kent, WA since 2006!

Each session features a 300-yard buoy loop where you'll swim with others at your pace. A coach in a kayak leads the workout from the start buoy, guiding you through an open water-style interval session—think pool training meets real-world swim skills.

On some nights, a second coach paddles near shore to work with newer swimmers. They’ll help you get comfortable in the water and confident with open water skills so you can join the main group on the course in no time.

Whether you're training for your next triathlon or just looking to level up your open water game, OWW is the perfect mix of fun, fitness, and skill-building!

Open Water Wednesdays are a great workout for any open water swimmer - you'll get valuable fitness training and can practice open water skills like sighting, turning at buoys, and swimming close to others.  This workout has the full spectrum of swimmers - from newbies to some of the fastest swimmers in the area. You'll fit right in!

Flexible Sign-Up. Big Savings.

You can register for just one workout at a time—but you’ll save money if you sign up for 3 or more.
In fact, if you sign up for 9, 10, or 11 workouts, each one is half the price!

Plans change? No problem.
If you can’t make a workout you registered for, just come to a different one. We’ll transfer your registration when you arrive—no need to tell us ahead of time.

Not sure of your summer schedule?
Pick the number of workouts you think you’ll attend. You’ll still get the discount, and the flexibility to shift dates as needed.

Note: This training is USA Triathlon (USAT) sanctioned. If you’re not a USAT annual member, you’ll need a one-day pass—but that pass covers all your workouts, not each one.

See more about pricing on the "Pricing" page.

Wetsuits are mandatory  If you don't own a swim-specific wetsuit yet, take a look at the blueseventy line that you can find at Northwest Tri & Bike.  Swim-specific wetsuits are far superior over the general watersports wetsuits, that can actually make open water swimming harder!  Northwest Tri & Bike will have blueseventy wetsuits available for you to try at the workouts. These are the best suits on the market and are produced right here in Seattle, WA. Learn more on the 'Wetsuits" page. 

Join us for a fun summer of Wednesday evening swims!

The Workout

The main workout takes place on a 300-yard buoy course set up just off shore.  A coach will be in a kayak at a corner of the course leading the workout.  They will call different sets of 50 yards, 100 yards, or more and you'll swim in groups of swimmers of similar speed.  You'll get a ton of practice navigating turns, sighting, and swimming close to others. It's a great combination of open water practice and interval training to make you faster!  The coach will give you a short explanation each night at our meeting spot near the boat launch and then we'll head to the water for a lap or two of warm-up. Expect to work hard, have FUN, and get faster!

If you are new to open water swimming and/or would like to practice closer to shore for awhile, a second coach will be in a kayak ready to learn a little about you and help you prepare to head out to the buoy course. Some swimmers stay near shore for a workout or two or three - there's no pressure to go to the buoy course but the coach will encourage you to do that when you're ready. You can also move from the buoy course to the shore workout to get some coaching on your stroke or help with specific skills.  The buoy course is the best place to practice turns and sighting and prepare you for open water swimming in a race.

Learn more about those workouts on the Race Page Here. 

Wetsuits

Wetsuits are mandatory at these practices.  There are loaner wetsuits available at Northwest Tri & Bike that you can pick up prior to the workout.   The type of wetsuit you bring is very important! If you need to purchase or borrow a wetsuit for a workout, see the info on the 'Wetsuit' page.

Details

Parking is limited and depending on the weather, the park can be crowded. There is limited availability in the boat launch parking lot, where we meet.  Don't park in the spots intended for trailers-only. You can get ticketed for that. 

There is more parking in the Main parking lot off Kent-Kangley Road.  The Soos Creek Trailhead is 1/4 mile away and has more parking. Plan to arrive early, if possible, especially when the weather is warm and there are a lot of public users in the park.

The workout will begin at 6:30: You might arrive a little early so you can check in and suit up.. There are bathrooms a 5-minute walk away from our meeting spot. It's most convenient to arrive with your swimsuit on and get into your wetsuit at our meeting spot. WETSUITS ARE MANDATORY. 
 

An RTB staff member or volunteer will check you in when you arrive.
 
If you sign up for a specific date and can't make it, we can easily transfer you to other dates anytime during the series without advanced notice. Please come on the nights that work best for you. 
 
You may leave your belongings at check-in. A trustworthy RTBer will look after them for you.
 

The workout ends at around 7:30pm. 

Questions? Email admin@weraisethebar.com. 

Workouts purchased individually are $25.   RTB members receive a 20% discount. 

You'll save significantly by purchasing 3 or more workouts at one time.  For example: 

• Purchase 3 workouts and save $5 per swim - $60 ($48 for RTB members)

• Purchase 6 workouts and save $9 per swim - $96 ($76.80 for RTB members)

• Purchase 11 workouts and save half!  $12.50 per swim - $137.50 ($110 for RTB members)

You can choose any number of swims to accommodate your summer schedule.

Total Swims purchased - Purchase price - (price per swim)

1 swim purchased - $25 total purchase ($25 per swim)

2 swims purchased  - $50 ($25 per swim)

3 swims - $60 ($20 per swim)

4 swims - $78 ($19.50 per swim)

5 swims - $96 ($19.20 per swim)

6 swims - $96 ($16 per swim)

7 swims - $105 ($15 per swim)

8 swims  $114 ($14.25 per swim)

9 swims $123 ($13.67 per swim)

10 swims $125 ($12.50 per swim)

11 swims $137.50 ($12.50 per swim)

You'll need to click on each workout/race individually during registration. If you're unsure which evenings you'll be attending, purchase the number of workouts you think you'll attend and use them on any Wednesdays you choose. We can transfer you easily from one to another when you check in at any workout.  

This training series is sanctioned by USA Triathlon.  If you are not an annual member of USA Triathlon, you'll be required to pay a $23 license fee for the series (not per swim).  If you are an annual member, no extra fees will apply.  Click Here to learn more about the benefits of USAT membership. 

There are no refunds, transfers or gifting of unused workouts to other swimmers. So look closely at your calendar when you register!

We hope to see you often!!!

The type of wetsuit you bring to these workouts is going to make a huge difference in your experience. The following info will help you have an awesome workout! 

Swimming wetsuits are made specifically for swimming!  Some of those brands are Blueseventy, Roka, Zoot, 2XU, TYR, and a few others.  Watersport wetsuits are allowed at this workout since they provide buoyancy, but they are a big detriment to swimming.  Swimming wetsuits have a slippery, shiny rubber exterior and a jersey (fabric like) interior.   Water Sports wetsuits (like for waterskiing, wake-boarding, or jetskiing) have a fabric-feeling exterior.  When you wear the correct size of a swimming wetsuit, they are form-fitted with no pockets of air that will fill with water. Your arms can move freely and unrestricted even when the sleeves are full length.  They keep your body on top of the water and make swimming easier and faster.  The watersport wetsuits are often looser, become heavy, and actually make swimming harder!  It will be hard to move your arm through the range you need to swim freestyle.    If you have any questions about a wetsuit, don't hesitate to reach out to Patty.  patty@weraisethebar.com. 

Blueseventy is making a size run of Men's & Women's Wetsuits available for OWW swimmers to try at the workouts FREE OF CHARGE.

They are available at Northwest Tri & Bike - just across the street from the workouts.  You can pick one up on your way to the workout  (before they close at 6PM) or during the week prior to the workout.  They must be returned to NWTB before the next OWW swim - no exceptions!  Be careful with these suits!  If they are damaged, you'll have to pay for the repair.  For more info, contact the shop 253 638 2453,  info@northwesttriandbike.com

These wetsuits aren't intended for multi-week use!  If you find the size you like, please head over to NWTB where you can purchase one of your very own.  The Fusion is a great value at $375.  Blueseventy makes a large line of wetsuits that you can learn about Here. The Fusion is considered an entry level suit.  You'll see some differences in price, of course.  Like all things, if you're able to spend a little more money on a wetsuit, you'll notice a little more flexibility, buoyancy, and other subtle differences that can make a difference in your swim.  Having a swim-specific wetsuit of any level will give you a large advantage over not wearing one.

Please consult the size chart below to locate the right size for you.

If you've never put on a wetsuit, check out this video for some great tips!  It's easy to damage a suit when you put it on and you'll be on the hook to cover repair or replacement costs with Northwest Tri & Bike. So see the video and watch those fingernails!