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first open water swim
ianogborn
Posts: 64
in General Chat
ok so i have done all the pool swimming i want to, now the time has come for me to do the Urban Race Brighton tri in September so if there is anyone doing this locally then pls drop me a line as my training partner has decided to wimp out and couldnt even finish the l2b bike ride. So where was I, I need some advice of how to cope with my first open water swim as this is obviously so different to swiming in a pool, so any advice would be greatfully recieved.
Ian
Ian
0
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Main problems I have in open water (and most people I've trained with and talked to seem to concur):
- sighting your marker in the distance and swimming in a straight line
- getting used to wearing the wet suit and making sure it fits comfortably, and getting used to taking it off in transtion
- getting used to the relative free-for-all activity of other swimmers in an open water event
Most useful solutions people have given me (but I still struggle with the above every time I do an open water race, but as much practice as I can manage does make it easier and less stressful):
- (a) instead of sighting the little yellow buoy (or whatever your marker is) try sighting something much bigger (like a very distinctive tree or a telephone pole) just behind your marker, it's easier to spot and you don't have to lift your head as high out of the water to see it; (b) if you only have access to a swimming pool, try and find a time when you have the lane all to yourself and swim a length with your eyes closed and see which direction you naturally veer towards, then work on correcting it until you can swim in a straighter line
- (a) practice wearing your wet suit whenever you can, even if you only have access to a swimming pool [just be careful not to get dehydrated or too boiling if it is a heated pool, so keep a water bottle by the pool]; (b) get someone more experienced to show you how to put it on so that it has some give in the knees and the shoulders, fits your crotch snugly, etc.; (d) use some special wet suit lubricant [they sell it in tri stores and online tri specialist shops, I use baby oil, or anything that is NOT petroleum based like vaseline, which would dissolve your suit]; (c) practice
- (a) practice with other people if you can find an open water training group; (b) stay to the outside of the swim pack if you don't get much chance to practice and swim the extra 100 metres to go around the pack instead of getting stuck in the middle if you are not very confident; (c) take water tai chi classes and learn how to deflect effortlessly the kicks, elbows and slashes that may come your way
Otherwise have fun and remember you still have the bike and run to go ... so pace yourself.
Good luck and enjoy
Let some water in (pulling on the neck a little and letting in a little water - it's also a great way to shrink your gonads and make sure they are tucked away safely before you start swimming [:D]), then try and find somewhere to stand up and squeeze the water out (you can also do it under water if you can't get back out of the water again). Run your hands from your thighs down to your ankles and also squeeze some out of from your shoulders to your wrists. You want to have a little layer of water between your skin and the wet suit, but not be carrying around an extra 3-4 kg of water inside the wet suit.
http://www.britishswimming.org/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,5157-180204-197422-nav-list,00.html be warned though alot of these guys swim without wet suits (brrr [&:] ) due to the A.S.A. regs but you'll probably be on your own and will definatly be at the back of the pack in a tri if you go out in just your speedos!
As for other bits of advise. Much the same as other posts. Mass starts are brutal if your not confident then keep to the out side edge or back of the pack. Getting your goggels kicked off is a bad way to start a race. Get in the water and warm up you can't swim very fast hyperventilating trust me! But most importantly get out and train in the sea befor the race so you know what to expect (as best as possible) from the water and your self. But don't swim on your own at worst get some one to watch you from the beach (with a mobile phone at the ready!!) and keep within a safe distance.
I'm not fazed by open water but just couldn't swim crawl. I've trained hard but with
all the splashing and arms and legs everywhere I felt safer doing breast stroke.
Having done a bit of sailing I figured that with a breeze coming from the right I aimed to the right of the bouy so that if I drifted I went onto the bouy instead of downwind. I think it worked.
Definately give it a go before the event and good luck.
Jude