I did an open water swim over the weekend and drafted for almost the entire race (Donner Lake Swim - 2.7 miles). I'm a good drafter and never touch feet; however, the person surely knew I was there and I wonder if they found me annoying. I'm also having a bit of trouble celebrating my time, feeling like I "cheated" (even knowing that it's perfectly legal and accepted). Maybe a better way of putting it is to say that I'm not sure if I could get that time on my own, and so I don't feel quite the same sense of accomplishment. On the other hand, trying to keep up with my draftee did spur me to swim faster and also kept me more mentally focused than usual, which was nice. So, I guess I am looking for how to sort things out for myself, and curious how others think about it.
I've struggled with this drafting thing my entire swimming career. I'm one of those that winds up "in between" groups, tends to mentally drfit at some point during a race & sometimes drifts out to my right but swims generally pretty straight. This has spelled disaster whenever I've really tried it in the past - I'm either smashing into someone's feet or I work hard to hang on for as long as I can & then fade. I had an epiphany this weekend during Big Shoulders!
My wave started pretty strong & we were all gunning down the first leg pretty quick. I like to stay out of the fray for the first length of the race just to let things sort out. I was parallel with a pair of people that were already working together well. They were pulling away slightly, but I put my head down & elevated my effort to get over & into their draft train. It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is for me to stay in someone's draft, I get pushed around a lot & wind up closer than I want to be. No one likes that person that sits behind them & hits their feet when they're swimming fast. I kept my sighting up about every 8-10 strokes just to double-check our line. If I needed to correct I did & they did nearly at the same time. When sitting in it was much easier for me to hold their pace, but not so easy that I could've passed them. Once or twice during each 1/2mi leg both my lead & I pulled over slightly to try to pass. Once out of the draft we both would start to lose pace. THAT's how you know you're in a good draft. When you can probably equal their pace but you can't pass them without putting in a major (read: unsustainable) effort.
The lead guy put in a huge surge as we started the second lap & dropped us. Then I got squeezed out on the next to last turn & wound up losing her. I then drifted far right & had to work really hard to get back to where I should've been. Coming home we were just about equal again but she did have about 10sec on me by the time we got to the beach.
It was a great experience & one I hope I can replicate in the future. Try to pass them every-so-often, that's how you know you're staying honest & not just sitting in.
I've struggled with this drafting thing my entire swimming career. I'm one of those that winds up "in between" groups, tends to mentally drfit at some point during a race & sometimes drifts out to my right but swims generally pretty straight. This has spelled disaster whenever I've really tried it in the past - I'm either smashing into someone's feet or I work hard to hang on for as long as I can & then fade. I had an epiphany this weekend during Big Shoulders!
My wave started pretty strong & we were all gunning down the first leg pretty quick. I like to stay out of the fray for the first length of the race just to let things sort out. I was parallel with a pair of people that were already working together well. They were pulling away slightly, but I put my head down & elevated my effort to get over & into their draft train. It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is for me to stay in someone's draft, I get pushed around a lot & wind up closer than I want to be. No one likes that person that sits behind them & hits their feet when they're swimming fast. I kept my sighting up about every 8-10 strokes just to double-check our line. If I needed to correct I did & they did nearly at the same time. When sitting in it was much easier for me to hold their pace, but not so easy that I could've passed them. Once or twice during each 1/2mi leg both my lead & I pulled over slightly to try to pass. Once out of the draft we both would start to lose pace. THAT's how you know you're in a good draft. When you can probably equal their pace but you can't pass them without putting in a major (read: unsustainable) effort.
The lead guy put in a huge surge as we started the second lap & dropped us. Then I got squeezed out on the next to last turn & wound up losing her. I then drifted far right & had to work really hard to get back to where I should've been. Coming home we were just about equal again but she did have about 10sec on me by the time we got to the beach.
It was a great experience & one I hope I can replicate in the future. Try to pass them every-so-often, that's how you know you're staying honest & not just sitting in.
