I will be doing my first open water swim in the James River (Richmond, VA) September 22. It is a half-Iron relay and I am terrified. My pool swims are very strong and I'm the fastest out of my group, and my 1,000 yard time trial came out to be about 16 minutes at an easy pace. Half-Iron is about 2,000 yards. My practice swims in the pool range about 2,500-3,600.
If I take it easy, go slow, don't panic in the water, and conquer the mental barrier of the distance, do you think it will be doable? I think so, but my own doubt is killing me. How do you beat these mental blocks?
Thanks! :)
One of the best things to do leading up to the swim is to get some experience swimming in an OW venue (lake, ocean, etc) before the race. Based on your practice distances, the swim should be fine. Be comfortable in this different environment before going in, and try to check out the venue as well. In addition to what flystorms recommended, you can purposefully over-rotate while breathing, where you actually look straight up to the sky, as a means to help stayed relaxed during the swim.
Depending on the start, try to stay out of the fray unless you like contact, and expected to have someone cut in front of you or run over your legs - it's part of the fun of OW! Report back on your experience! :cheerleader:
One of the best things to do leading up to the swim is to get some experience swimming in an OW venue (lake, ocean, etc) before the race. Based on your practice distances, the swim should be fine. Be comfortable in this different environment before going in, and try to check out the venue as well. In addition to what flystorms recommended, you can purposefully over-rotate while breathing, where you actually look straight up to the sky, as a means to help stayed relaxed during the swim.
Depending on the start, try to stay out of the fray unless you like contact, and expected to have someone cut in front of you or run over your legs - it's part of the fun of OW! Report back on your experience! :cheerleader:
