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?
The problems that occur at starts mentioned here have a lot to do with why I start on the outside as well. I would rather have the extra yardage than contend with legs and elbows.
It is also why I was really a big fan of the Big Shoulders start that I experienced last year. In addition to starting in waves, it's a water start with a straight line only one or two deep in most places and everyone pretty much kept jostling to a minimum. Within 100 yards, I completely had my own space. That was the one time where I didn't see a need to get at one end of the pack.
The problems that occur at starts mentioned here have a lot to do with why I start on the outside as well. I would rather have the extra yardage than contend with legs and elbows.
It is also why I was really a big fan of the Big Shoulders start that I experienced last year. In addition to starting in waves, it's a water start with a straight line only one or two deep in most places and everyone pretty much kept jostling to a minimum. Within 100 yards, I completely had my own space. That was the one time where I didn't see a need to get at one end of the pack.
