Open water swim PANIC!!!!!!!! HELP PLEASE!!!!
nicknofinger
Posts: 284
in General Chat
Hi everyone I had my first open water swim of the season today, and to say it went badly would be an understatement!!! I rushed into it and just could not calm down and 300 meters into the 750 meters I had to get out as I was having a panic attack. I know the only cure is to spend more time in the water and to just try and stay calm. Does anyone know where I can get some teaching for this near South Wales or the West.
Any other tips hints and knowledge that I'm not the only one would be great.
Oh it's not the swimming that's the problem as I swam 3.5km on Monday non stop.
Cheers everyone from Micheal Phelps (i wish)
Any other tips hints and knowledge that I'm not the only one would be great.
Oh it's not the swimming that's the problem as I swam 3.5km on Monday non stop.
Cheers everyone from Micheal Phelps (i wish)
0
Comments
Anyway, good luck with it all and finding somewhere outside to practise.
I cant give you any advice as I am looking to start doing open water events myself. I am a little nervous at the thought of it. That must have been scary for you. I will certainly let you know of my first water experience, any advice glady recieved to.
I panicked massively on Sunday when I had my first go.
I had another go last night and it was much easier.
you're right, more time in the water is prob the best way....have a look at endurancecoach.co.uk (maybe .com) and see if they have any ow swim lessons you can go to.
good luck mate, and keep it up...i'm totally new to all this so i get exactly where you're coming from
When the klaxon went, I either went off to quick, or my heart was pounding from adrenaline and after about 50m I was gasping for air. Had to throw in some breastroke to get my breath back (looking around there was a lot of that going on) and tried again. Same story. Thought I was going to end up with a DNF at one point, but managed to keep it together.
Moral of the story is I think everyone has trouble getting used to OW swimming but from the advice on this forum it should get easier with practice.
God I hope so.
I think I'm going to make a trip down to the Blueseventy centr in Reading, has anyone been?
These are my strategies for avoiding an OW panic attack - and I am a 9min 500m swimmer who also does a huge amount of sea and river swimming - still sometimes get the Triathlon Panic Attack:
1. If at all possible - warm-up in the water before the event. Swim for 10-15 mins, very gently. Get your head in and get a feel for the water.
2. Start at the side and towards the back (particularly if you are actually a strong swimmer. When you get into your stroke you will find yourself overtaking lots of people)
3. Start very slow. Don't dive in at the klaxon and try to thrash your way to the front. Video evidence shows that at the Brighton triathlon last year I was last in the water.....and sixth out.
4. If you do get into trouble, take short breaths (when you have a panic attack you over-breathe and you need to calm that down), turn onto your back, do a little breaststroke.
Let us know how you get on!
blurredgirl
The cold, the non seeing in the water, the no bottom, the way the sides seem to close in on the river, the fact that the banks didn't really have acces in and out....the cold...the cold...have i mentioned, the cold.... I nstruggled with my breathing due to the cold...
My only adivice, and i am NO expert, but it worked for me.... i took time to aclimatise with to the water.... get in 5 mins before anyone else, just tread water, wee in your suit, seriously, worksm and just get used to it.... get you face in the water.... take time to calm down....thats the biggest bit of advice, and helped me no end... all the other bits will fall into place....as they say with all our diciplines, time in the water, on the bike and on the feet, makes it all better.....
I found another part of the river that allowed me to go nearly neck deep and still touch the bottom, just to get me used to it all.... keep on, it still isn't my fave bit, OW or pool, but we do it cause we love it....don't we...
Good Luck...
Tregaron 20 miles inland - had a go today lasted 3 minutes before lost all feeling in hands and feet and got out far toooo cold on thehunt for a puddle somewhere[:D]
Have been doing pool swims in my wetsuit with just speedos underneath, intended to swim bilaterally and concentrate on my technique. Concentrated on my technique to the point of anality and realised I was breathing every 4 strokes and not feeling any stress or exertion. After a few sessions discovered that whether I am doing 750, 1,000, 1,500 or 2,000 I am doing the same pace regardless of distance of about 2:15/100m. Not brilliant but I am very happy with it as the swim is my worst discipline. Secondly I have been concentrating very hard on technique and in fact I ignore achieving a goal time; each stroke I think about the angle at which my hand enters the water, hip rotation etc. Result is a slow relaxed pace, not out of breath (no oxygen debt) yet I am getting a time of about 16 mins for the 750 and 33mins for 1500. Yes I know it is a pool but the turns slow me down and I make a point of not kicking off at each turn as they would not be avialable in a lake. And as I said that is with a slow, relaxed pace, at times my legs are motionless.
So for me my strategy in training will be to maintain technique and then try to build up speed just a tad, 5 - 7% is my initial goal. When racing I will wear just my Falke sports knickers instead of a tri-suit underneath the wetsuit and get into my trisuit at T1 as I think the time I will gain in the swim will outweigh the time lost in changing, make sure that get as much stretch as possible in the arms and chest and discipline myself on the technique.