Hello Open Water Veterans,
I'm seeking some advice to help next time I try an open water swim. Yesterday I competed in my first open water swim, signed up for the 3 mile, but stopped at two miles due to breathing difficulties. The breathing problems began as soon as I entered the water- I have no idea why.
Water temps in low 70's
I've been training in the water and on land, so cardio fitness and body readiness should be good.
I was mentally prepared, even had a fan club rooting me along.
I've swam in many lakes over the years so no phobias.
Had my usual breakfast (protein shake and some nuts). During hour or so before the race began was sipping on an electrolyte drink and water.I ended up doing head-up *** stroke for the first 3/4 mile before I was able to put my face in the water and breath something close to normal.
It was as if my lungs stopped working (similar feeling to when I had pneumonia many years ago).
By the end of the 2nd mile, which was done mostly freestyle, my lungs began making it difficult to breath and legs were cramping so I played it safe and exited the water. Even today more than 24 hours after the event I'm still feeling like my lungs aren't quite full capacity, otherwise I feel fine. Except for a bit of next stiffness from all the head up *** stroke.
Given the same situation I would do the same again. I'm not looking for sympathy or pep talks, but would like to find out if anyone has had similar experiences or suggestions for next time. (There will be a next time!)
Any ideas??
You noted that you had been training in open water but had you been training in open water that was that cold? If not, then it sounds as though your body simply was not acclimated to that cold of water.
Frequently when the inability to breathe happens to folks, they start concentrating on trying to breathe when in actuality they've not yet breathed out all the air in their lungs. Instead they keep gasping and gasping. So if this happens to you again, focus on exhaling. Pretend your blowing out that last birthday candle on the cake that won't go out. Chances are if you really "blow out that last candle" you'll find yourself able to breathe in. Then just take 30 seconds to do some deep in and out breathing & hopefully you'll be back in the race.
Were you wearing a wetsuit? While excellent for flotation wetsuits, if not properly fitted or put on, can restrict breathing.
You mentioned you have swum in lakes before; have you trained in lakes or just swum? There is a difference.
When training in pools, do you do open turns or flip turns? Open turns in a pool provide a built-in breather every length that you don’t get in open water.
Do you ever experience breathing difficulties in other races? While you may not have aquaphobia you may be experiencing race anxieties.
No wetsuit, water temp was mid 70's general perfect for swimming.
Yes I've trained in lakes before (although not yet this year). I'm in Wisconsin and lakes don't get real friendly until about now.
All training this years was in pools, combination of open and flip turns, deep water aerobics, I'm also a fitness instructor teaching several aerobic classes a week at a variety of levels.
I didn't knowingly have any race anxiety - my goal was to finish wasn't worried about times etc.. It has been many years since my last competition (22 years) - I do coach swimming full time and I certainly thought I was ready to go. I was very relaxed at the starting line, starting at the back of the pack with the intention of just doing a nice long swim.
It was all very odd - a truly new experience. Later in the day I still had some tightness in my chest, although the rest of me was ready to go.
this is interesting. several years ago during a race in a lake i had a episode of acute bronchospasm, likely due to some algae that had bloomed in the lake. i had many open water swims done, and never had a problem in that lake, however it happened relatively quickly. i could hear wheezing and i coughed hanging onto every vessel there was until i could finish.
i do not have exercise induced or any other form of asthma.
turned out a number of people were affected differently and some people who had recrudescent asthma had reactivations resulting in several months of inhaled steroid therapy (we're talking about elite racers)
so, with your continued chest tightness, i wonder about some reactive airway disease perhaps had as a kid and never treated or needed treeatment and exacerbated by something in the water?
not to scare you but its a thought in someone who seems as experienced as yourself. if you continue to have chest tightness i'd refer you to a pulmonologist for PFT's and see where the difficulty lies in your spirometry readings.
my 2 cents.
Interesting theory and the expereince is similar to what I felt several years ago when I had a bout of bronchial pneumonia so maybe there is something to this.
I plan on swimming tomorrow morning (in a pool) so it will be interesting to see how my breathing goes.
Thanks for the theory and suggestion. If the breathing continues to be a problem I will give my doc. a call.
