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
Parents
Former Member
I have Just started this year doing OW So this is the little I know. It is hard at first but the more you do OW the more you get used to it. The first one I did the same thing all pool and no Ow. Saying calm is the key, its mostly in the mind. But being in the lake or were ever helps you learn how to swim with waves or currents that you wont get in the pool. Also in the pool lift your head every six strokes to learn to sight. Doing this will help it become natural to you in open water.I have done several Ow this year and must admit every time in the first few yards I get worked up but thinking too about stroke form helps me get in the grove. Warming up before the race in the water you are about to swim calms me more too. Hope the next one goes well for the two of you.
I have Just started this year doing OW So this is the little I know. It is hard at first but the more you do OW the more you get used to it. The first one I did the same thing all pool and no Ow. Saying calm is the key, its mostly in the mind. But being in the lake or were ever helps you learn how to swim with waves or currents that you wont get in the pool. Also in the pool lift your head every six strokes to learn to sight. Doing this will help it become natural to you in open water.I have done several Ow this year and must admit every time in the first few yards I get worked up but thinking too about stroke form helps me get in the grove. Warming up before the race in the water you are about to swim calms me more too. Hope the next one goes well for the two of you.
