I frequently find myself having to make a quick decision in open water races - draft off the person in front of me who is drifting slightly off course or give up and go on my own without the draft benefit on the straighter line.
Often I figure that the slight extra distance is worth the draft and just silently hope the lead person in the pack straightens out.
It's very hard to decide which is best in the heat of the swim. It depends on how off course the lead person is, but it's not easy to know that at water level in the middle of the race.
Which would you pick?
Parents
Former Member
My experience has been to let things settle down and then figure out who is around after the first quarter of a race. Most swimmers are so hyped up at the start that they forget where they are in the big picture of pace and navigation. I agree with previous posts regarding draft for awhile, see what they are doing and then decide to move on. I am always trying to reel in the next pack since I'm a firm believer in negative splitting a race.
Chesapeake Bay Temp in Annapolis is 39.
My experience has been to let things settle down and then figure out who is around after the first quarter of a race. Most swimmers are so hyped up at the start that they forget where they are in the big picture of pace and navigation. I agree with previous posts regarding draft for awhile, see what they are doing and then decide to move on. I am always trying to reel in the next pack since I'm a firm believer in negative splitting a race.
Chesapeake Bay Temp in Annapolis is 39.
