First open water swim, and I'm terrified!

5K is an awfully ambitious first OW. I have always been a strictly pool guy, but did a one mile OW last year and another this year. I swore never to do another after the first one. However, due to teammate prodding and an event being really close by, I did the 2nd one. It felt much less uncomfortable so i might eventually do anther one. Should be fine. I've been training 4500-7200 SCY a workout 3-4 times a week with weights/cardio/drylands on the days between for a few months now. I don't expect (or even want) to be the fastest one out there. I just want to be able to get into a good steady rhythm (maybe a 1:15-1:20 per 100 free type pace).

Grappledunk and Slug are right. For what it's worth, my first OWS was 2 years ago. A 3K in a lake. I went out with the idea of keeping a nice even, smooth stroke and ignoring the pace of others. I did much better than I expected. Last year, I did another 3K in a lake. With the experience under my belt, I thought I would go racing. I tried to keep up with 3 guys much faster than me, and the piano fell on me half way through the race. I finished a full minute and a half slower, further back in the standings, and noted how much more fun the folks who finished far behind me had than I. I remembered that experience going into the Big Shoulders last year and swam a nice even relaxed 5K much faster than my goal time. It's all about the enjoyment of the swim at your pace. Come to think of it, maybe a better predictor of success in OWS is whether or not I have a beer waiting for me at the finish.

How do you OW psychos evaluate your times? There's no perfect way, but the most accurate is to do the same swim in subsequent years. Of course currents and other conditions will change and effect the times, but you can at least get a rough idea. I'd guess that someone who's just starting out will show a huge improvement after a good year of training. Also, checking the results and seeing how your placement relative to other swimmers changes can give you a sense of how you're coming along. You're absolutely right that comparing two different races, even if they're supposedly the same distance, will not give you an accurate picture.

I'm curious....2 questions: 1) If you're a newbie why don't you start with a safer, warmer pool 1500 meter race then if all goes well try an ow swim? (progression) 2) If you insist on an ow swim but you aren't ready yet why can't you wait till July/August and be more confident and prepared? Is this race extra special for you? I love OW races/swimming but I love to be prepared and fit to do them. To me the training is the best part (it's a lifestyle thing) and the races are the icing on the cake. I'm not saying it's wrong to be slow, but going into a race without confidence is wrong......and not fair to the race directors and workers.

My first three goals in every OW swim I do is: 1) Finish 2) Don't barf 3) Have fun Trust me... I have not accomplished these three goals in every race I have done.

Hey teasqueeze, I have my first one on May 30! No worries my friend. Even though I swam competitively for nearly 20 years this is my first venture into the OW! Mine is a 5K (3.1 miles) and I'm a bit nervous as well. I'm not worried about finishing, I just want to do a decent pace and not sink like a stone in the middle of it. If you do get tired, just slow the pace a bit and gather yourself a bit physically and mentally. I think its more mental than anything! You can also flip over and do a little backstroke (or double arm) just to catch your breathe if need be. Go get em, best of luck!:applaud: 5K is an awfully ambitious first OW. I have always been a strictly pool guy, but did a one mile OW last year and another this year. I swore never to do another after the first one. However, due to teammate prodding and an event being really close by, I did the 2nd one. It felt much less uncomfortable so i might eventually do anther one.

have fun teasqueeze! I find if I'm breathless or disoriented a few seconds of breaststroke helps. Like the others said, take your own time and don't stess. Then, when you're addicted to OW you'll be able to improve on that first time without trouble :)

have fun teasqueeze! I find if I'm breathless or disoriented a few seconds of breaststroke helps. Like the others said, take your own time and don't stess. Then, when you're addicted to OW you'll be able to improve on that first time without trouble :) How do you OW psychos evaluate your times? Even if you are comparing one mile races, you know the distance was a rough estimate and there are so many other variables such as waves, currents and how much distance you actually cover to hit the buoys..

Question for you. If I can comfortably swim 100's on the 1:15-1:20 pace, how realistic is it that I can do that in my first OW race? I'm a 1:25 to 1:30 per 100 pace in the pool over long distances. That is also what I am in OWS (maybe a little faster with the excitement and the adrenaline). Of course, I've only done them in lakes with no significant chop or current. That would probably slow me down some. So I would say your pool pace (if you can hold that pace for 3K) is likely to hold for an OWS as well unless you're swimming up or downstream in a river or in the ocean. Have fun. They're addictive.

Should be fine. I've been training 4500-7200 SCY a workout 3-4 times a week with weights/cardio/drylands on the days between for a few months now. I don't expect (or even want) to be the fastest one out there. I just want to be able to get into a good steady rhythm (maybe a 1:15-1:20 per 100 free type pace). Question for you. If I can comfortably swim 100's on the 1:15-1:20 pace, how realistic is it that I can do that in my first OW race? I have my first OW race coming up in early August. I am anxious and excited, and really have no idea what to expect. I figure I will wear my watch and try and keep track of some form of time for pace. Thoughts?