I'm hoping to swim in open water some day. Just read some articles about what to pay attention to and all sorts of accidents that can happen--losing goggles or cap when the race just started, for example. Some people bring an extra pair of goggles and wear them on their ankles or necks??
It will be interesting to hear what kind of accidents people have actually experienced in OW swimming--goggles/cap accidents, cramps due to cold water, losing direction, animal bites, needing rescue... And if you had the rare chance to see what the inside of the stomach of a shark was like that would be exciting to hear :D
OW swimming is very safe. (that is if you can swim and are in proper condition to complete the distance)
I have never seen an accident during an ow swim that I would consider mentionable.
I have never seen a swimmer take extra googles. One time my googles got knocked off my head about 500 meters into a 5K race. I simply stopped and put them back on, no big deal.
OW swims have course sentry's in boats who make sure swimmers stay on course.
If I were you I would train for the distance, get some ow swim experience in local lakes, and stop worrying about bad things that could happen. I'm sure anything COULD happen but nothing probably will happen to you!
Have fun! :afraid: Don't be scared!
Lynne Cox recounts a scary run-in with thick fog on on one of her Catalina Channel attempts in the book Swimming to Antarctica. The fog got so thick she lost her escort boat and was stuck in the middle of the shipping lanes with just her paddleboard escort.
No major accidents in open water swimming, except seasickness in a couple of swims. In one, I lost a pair of goggles, but that was my fault. I was wearing tinted goggles and was having trouble seeing so pushed them back on top of my head (as one would w/ sunglasses). Unfortunately, they didn't stay there, and I also almost lost a swim cap at the same time. That I didn't want to lose, since I have long hair and it would have gotten in my face, making it impossible to see where I was going. So I stopped to tread water and put the cap back on. I was quite the speedster that day...not. :rolleyes:
Other than that, my other swimming related accident occurred when I walked onto the pool deck for practice one day, tripped over some rubber matting and fell. Give me open water any day! :afraid:
Lynne Cox recounts a scary run-in with thick fog on on one of her Catalina Channel attempts in the book Swimming to Antarctica. The fog got so thick she lost her escort boat and was stuck in the middle of the shipping lanes with just her paddleboard escort.
This and G_Swim's experience would definitely scare me! But glad both survived! It seems as if survival in situations like that depends on both adrenalin and the ability to stay focused/calm, figure out one's resources (such as a buoy). Dang, I'd be clinging to that buoy also!
Fortunately, never had an ow swim in fog.
UNTIL a girl put her hand on my shoulder, grabbed and pulled herself infront of me. I would have been so pissed, but since I drafted off her for the following 2km and then passed her with roughly 200m left I was able to let it go.
That sucks, but good that she didn't jump on your back and take a ride with you :D
G_Swim, thanks for sharing your experience. It must have been really scary, and imagine if no boats came by and its gets colder and if you get severe cramps, hunger.
By the way, have any of you ever used the kind of floats that can contain clothes which you strap on your waist and drag it while you swim? It may save you in such situations.
it's been reported that a swimmer during this past weekends OW races in sweden was kicked so hard in the chest during the start by another swimmer that she was taken to the closest emergency room and not released until 5-6 hrs later.
I was hit pretty hard in the face within the first 200m or so, and locked arms a few times, but nothing that was unexpected, UNTIL a girl put her hand on my shoulder, grabbed and pulled herself infront of me. I would have been so pissed, but since I drafted off her for the following 2km and then passed her with roughly 200m left I was able to let it go.
your best bet to avoid those kinds of accidents is to start at the back or way to the left or right and let the sprinters go out first.
