My wife and I did our first triathlon(sprint distance) yesterday. I gotta say, I am addicted. However, I freaked out a bit in my first open water swim(500 yds). I was able to calm myself down each time I became nervous but to be completely honest, the swim SUCKED! Ive always been a decent swimmer in the pool and found out saturday how different ow is. Only similarity was that I was wet on both occasions. I completely abandoned my pool technique and for all intensive purposes I dog paddled 500 yds. When I did freestyle, I swam with my head out of the water the whole time. Have any of you accomplished swimmers experienced this? I got nervous and let it ruin my swim. I found a new love in competing and would like to work up to an olympic/half ironman distance, but ive got to get past this unknown fear. Will this come with time and more ow training? Thank you guys a ton for any response.
Wes
Did I read this correctly that you had not practiced in open water? Your first experience was in the race?
Practicing in a pool is great for learning the pace you want, but practicing in open water is the only way to become at ease. I live at a beach and the triathlon clubs and the triathlon stores have regularly scheduled open water swims for all levels of competitiors.
Did I read this correctly that you had not practiced in open water? Your first experience was in the race?
Practicing in a pool is great for learning the pace you want, but practicing in open water is the only way to become at ease. I live at a beach and the triathlon clubs and the triathlon stores have regularly scheduled open water swims for all levels of competitiors.
