Swimming Disaster (Page 2)

I always tell people when they are getting ready for their first OWS-tri.

1. Start out in the back, left or right far side from the turn.

2. Start out 3 times slower than you think you can swim, and then slow down more.  The first 200 yards should be about being smooth and clean.  If you start racing, you will likely get into a huge panic.  You have a long swim to cover, you need to be able to breath the whole way.  You cannot do that if you blow up 100-150 yards/meters into the swim.

My first tri I had the panic, I was in a pool but I hit that 100-200 yards and could not get enough air into my lungs.  I just simply started out way too fast.  Now I always start slow and get my stroke.

People have offered some great advice. Particularly getting more time in the water. However, there is more to open water racing. To help both those new to open water and those wanting to get better, I tell people there are 3 things you MUST do to be successful in open water:

1) Don't Panic

2) Don't Panic

3) Don't Panic

No matter what happens. To help with this visualize the swim and mentally rehearse successfully negotiating your way through a crowd with people bumping you along the way. Visualize seeing things, feelings things, swallowing water and breathing under control at all times even if doing so requires you to stop or flip over on your back to relax. If you know it will be cold, visualize it that way with you breathing calmly. Visualize what you would do if you had problems with your goggles (and then go out and get a pair that fit). Mentally rehearsing success is particularly useful in open water even though there is a likelihood that something totally unexpected may happen.

For example. I recently finished a race from Alcatraz. The organizers did a test run the day before and advised everyone that times will be fast and the faster swimmers could aim right for the finish. However on race day I kept finding myself off course. I thought it was me, but no matter how many times I made a correction I continued to be off course.  When I finished I asked someone if they were having problems with staying on course. Turns out there was a current that day that wasn't present during their test swim. Luckily I mentally prepared myself not only for the cold water (I swam in the "skins" division) but also how I would handle currents and being in the water longer.

If you master all of those you will have mastered the next step after not panicking, that being, no matter what happens keep breathing normally. Sounds funny, but swimming well is all about breathing. Whether in the pool or open water, you must master breathing correctly before focusing on the more esoteric details of stroke mechanics. People often forget this.