Ten Tips For Water Swimming
Swimming is often the sport that keeps people OUT of triathlon. The mere thought of swimming for any distance in the middle of a lake or ocean with plenty of uncertainty swimming around you is often just enough to keep people at the shoreline. But this is not an all or nothing sport! Many beginner triathlons offer pool swims so that you can try out the sport
of triathlon without really risking your life! Some of these triathlons might even allow you to take a flotation device along with you just to calm your nerves in a race environment.
It is important to know that even the strongest of pool swimmers might face considerable anxiety in an open water environment. I am a strong swimmer and the first time I put a wetsuit on and entered the local lake I turned into a hyperventilating mess. That did nothing for my confidence but then someone wiser than me, who had watched me struggle, came over and suggested I take some time to frolic in the water. I did exactly that and it helped me calm down in this unknown environment and I was able to swim despite my initial reaction.
TIPS:
1. If wearing a wetsuit for the first time, take your time to get comfortable in the water. A wetsuit can feel restrictive and many do not like the feeling around the neck.
2. Let some water into your wetsuit so that your body can adjust to the cold temperature. If you do this, you are less likely to react to the cold water when the swim begins with panic stricken, gaspy breathing - which can be enough to send the beginner back to shore. Make sure you let in a few good blasts of the cold water!
3. While frolicking and getting use to the water, MAKE SURE to put your face and head right under the water. Please do NOT save this for the moment they say GO! If the water is really cold, your face and head might feel like they are going to crack. In time, this feeling might go away as you get use to the temperature. However, if the water is really cold be prepared to be a little uncomfortable. Submerge yourself entirely and blow some bubbles. Take some deep breaths and relax.
4. Wear two swim caps to help insulate your head if the water is cold.
5. Ear plugs are a great idea as well. Nothing chills your brains faster than your ears filled with ice cold water. In addition, wearing ear plugs has been said to help people at the end of the swim with reducing the feeling of dizziness one might experience when going quickly from a horizontal swimming position to a vertical running position. You can even get custom ear plugs made if you find you are prone to ear infections. Otherwise, silicone moldable ear plugs can do the trick.
6. When placing yourself for the swim start, make sure that you are not standing right up front if you are uneasy in the water. The fast people will be upfront and they will swim over you if you are there and start your swim with some degree of hesitancy. If it is your first open water swim, place yourself near the back of the pack so that you have plenty of space to start your swim and so that you do not have to worry about flailing arms and legs of other swimmers.
7. Once the swim begins, have fun and relax! Do not fight the water! If you find you take in a gulp of water and need time to regroup, do breaststroke and keep your head above water to cough if you need to. Often there are kayaks or canoes on the water watching for anyone who needs assistance. Help IS there if you need it. Also, get comfortable flipping onto your back in the pool so you can do the same in an open water swim if you need a few minutes to rest and the water is too deep or the assistance of a kayak is too far away.
8. If you can, learn to breathe every third stroke so that you get use to breathing on BOTH sides of your body. While this is not paramount in the pool it can quickly become a required skill if you have a wind making waves that are hitting you in the face each time you try to take in air on one side. If this happens, you should be comfortable breathing to the other side (every 2nd breath) if need be.
9. In the pool, practice what you plan to do if you have your goggles kicked or ripped off your face accidently. It can happen and if you are not prepared to flip on your back and empty them or to tread water while you readjust them so they stop leaking you might panic when you cannot see in the water.
10. NEVER swim alone in open water. Always use the buddy system. Your safety is your number one concern!
of triathlon without really risking your life! Some of these triathlons might even allow you to take a flotation device along with you just to calm your nerves in a race environment.
It is important to know that even the strongest of pool swimmers might face considerable anxiety in an open water environment. I am a strong swimmer and the first time I put a wetsuit on and entered the local lake I turned into a hyperventilating mess. That did nothing for my confidence but then someone wiser than me, who had watched me struggle, came over and suggested I take some time to frolic in the water. I did exactly that and it helped me calm down in this unknown environment and I was able to swim despite my initial reaction.
TIPS:
1. If wearing a wetsuit for the first time, take your time to get comfortable in the water. A wetsuit can feel restrictive and many do not like the feeling around the neck.
2. Let some water into your wetsuit so that your body can adjust to the cold temperature. If you do this, you are less likely to react to the cold water when the swim begins with panic stricken, gaspy breathing - which can be enough to send the beginner back to shore. Make sure you let in a few good blasts of the cold water!
3. While frolicking and getting use to the water, MAKE SURE to put your face and head right under the water. Please do NOT save this for the moment they say GO! If the water is really cold, your face and head might feel like they are going to crack. In time, this feeling might go away as you get use to the temperature. However, if the water is really cold be prepared to be a little uncomfortable. Submerge yourself entirely and blow some bubbles. Take some deep breaths and relax.
4. Wear two swim caps to help insulate your head if the water is cold.
5. Ear plugs are a great idea as well. Nothing chills your brains faster than your ears filled with ice cold water. In addition, wearing ear plugs has been said to help people at the end of the swim with reducing the feeling of dizziness one might experience when going quickly from a horizontal swimming position to a vertical running position. You can even get custom ear plugs made if you find you are prone to ear infections. Otherwise, silicone moldable ear plugs can do the trick.
6. When placing yourself for the swim start, make sure that you are not standing right up front if you are uneasy in the water. The fast people will be upfront and they will swim over you if you are there and start your swim with some degree of hesitancy. If it is your first open water swim, place yourself near the back of the pack so that you have plenty of space to start your swim and so that you do not have to worry about flailing arms and legs of other swimmers.
7. Once the swim begins, have fun and relax! Do not fight the water! If you find you take in a gulp of water and need time to regroup, do breaststroke and keep your head above water to cough if you need to. Often there are kayaks or canoes on the water watching for anyone who needs assistance. Help IS there if you need it. Also, get comfortable flipping onto your back in the pool so you can do the same in an open water swim if you need a few minutes to rest and the water is too deep or the assistance of a kayak is too far away.
8. If you can, learn to breathe every third stroke so that you get use to breathing on BOTH sides of your body. While this is not paramount in the pool it can quickly become a required skill if you have a wind making waves that are hitting you in the face each time you try to take in air on one side. If this happens, you should be comfortable breathing to the other side (every 2nd breath) if need be.
9. In the pool, practice what you plan to do if you have your goggles kicked or ripped off your face accidently. It can happen and if you are not prepared to flip on your back and empty them or to tread water while you readjust them so they stop leaking you might panic when you cannot see in the water.
10. NEVER swim alone in open water. Always use the buddy system. Your safety is your number one concern!
