Firstimer needs advice on 1.2 open water swim?

Warm up in the course (if possible) as closely as possible to how you'd warm up for a pool mile Try to get a sense of how fast the field is going to be (e.g., last year's results) so you can pick an appropriate place to line up for the start However the start is -- in-water or from the shore -- line up on one side, not in the middle and preferably make you the outermost person. This notably reduces your chances for getting too beaten up on the start. Try to find a pack after the initial flurry of sprinting (2 to 3 minutes into the race) that is slightly faster than you and then draft. Trust the pack to do most of the sighting for you so you can keep your head down. Focus on your stroke and breathing pattern ... define what you want to do and then keep your mind ... well mindful of doing that over and over again If you've drafted well and have the energy, blow by your pack to the finish ... no taunting, though, as you race past them:) I like to wear my goggles under my cap as there's less chance a random hand my drag them off me, but that's a personal preference. HAVE FUN!

Warm up in the course (if possible) as closely as possible to how you'd warm up for a pool mile Try to get a sense of how fast the field is going to be (e.g., last year's results) so you can pick an appropriate place to line up for the start However the start is -- in-water or from the shore -- line up on one side, not in the middle and preferably make you the outermost person. This notably reduces your chances for getting too beaten up on the start. Try to find a pack after the initial flurry of sprinting (2 to 3 minutes into the race) that is slightly faster than you and then draft. Trust the pack to do most of the sighting for you so you can keep your head down. Focus on your stroke and breathing pattern ... define what you want to do and then keep your mind ... well mindful of doing that over and over again If you've drafted well and have the energy, blow by your pack to the finish ... no taunting, though, as you race past them:) I like to wear my goggles under my cap as there's less chance a random hand my drag them off me, but that's a personal preference. HAVE FUN!