Hi everyone! I did an open water lake swim this weekend, and it was really fun. I even got to meet Swimmy! We had a great time. My hubby told me that they watched me swim the 2-mile event and that I was really pulling to the right. I know that my right side is my strongest side, so I am not surprised. But does anyone have any advice or tricks for swimming straight in open water? I am doing a 10K in November and I would rather not swim an extra 2K because of zig-zagging, if possible! Thanks for anything you can suggest!
Diana
Parents
Former Member
Do you have a support boat/canoe/kayak? If so, work with the operator of that boat to paddle straight, and you can keep to the right or to the left of it (depending on your dominant breathing side) and just sight off the boat. It's a whole lot easier for a kayaker or canoeist to paddle straight because they are sitting up and facing forward.
You often don't have one on a 2-mile swim, but I think you should on the 10K.
If you have no support boat, then you have to learn to "spot". Pick some prominent object at a distance in the direction you are trying to swim. Perhaps a lighthouse, or a buoy , etc., if you are in a large body of water like a bay or ocean, or a particular house or hill on the shore of the lake if you are in a lake. Keep sighting every x-many strokes to make sure you are heading in that general direction.
Personally I have found that it is more efficient to sight on the stroke that I am NOT taking the breath on.
Do you have a support boat/canoe/kayak? If so, work with the operator of that boat to paddle straight, and you can keep to the right or to the left of it (depending on your dominant breathing side) and just sight off the boat. It's a whole lot easier for a kayaker or canoeist to paddle straight because they are sitting up and facing forward.
You often don't have one on a 2-mile swim, but I think you should on the 10K.
If you have no support boat, then you have to learn to "spot". Pick some prominent object at a distance in the direction you are trying to swim. Perhaps a lighthouse, or a buoy , etc., if you are in a large body of water like a bay or ocean, or a particular house or hill on the shore of the lake if you are in a lake. Keep sighting every x-many strokes to make sure you are heading in that general direction.
Personally I have found that it is more efficient to sight on the stroke that I am NOT taking the breath on.
