race day swim
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Iron Dan posted 12 weeks ago.
There are several things that it could be.
1) Have you ever really swam in open water before?
2) Is it panic or is it shock from being in the cold water?
3) How long before the start of the swim do you get in the water and ready to go?
I am just guessing here but it seems to me that you might need a little more practice in the open water. I always get a little anxious at the start of the swim, so I don't know if that will ever go away, but you would hope to be able to calm yourself down within the first few strokes. Also, when you show up for a race, get in the water early and warm up a little bit. Don't know what else to tell you other than to get out there and get comfortable in the open water.
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triNick posted 12 weeks ago.
Is it the fear of not seeing bottom or the fear of people swimming on top of you?
- Try practicing in open water more often.
- See if you can find a tri club to swim with in open water, do some drill of swimming in a group, close together for some distance, repeat
Do you get in a swim before the race starts, a warm up? If not, try doing that. You will get acclimated to the water at least.
If you have time, pick up this book: The Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training by Jim Taylor & Terri Schneider. It has some good chapters: dealing with emotions, focusing and so on
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TryScott posted 12 weeks ago.
I don't know what advice to give, but you may find some comfort in knowing it has happened to me. My first triathlon was a start where we jump from a ferry boat 1500m away from shore. I'm not a fast swimmer, but I love the water and I've always been very comfortable in a pool, lake, ocean, and rivers. As soon as I resurfaced from jumping in, I took 3 or 4 strokes to make sure that nobody jumped on top of me. After that I looked where I wanted to go, and tried to start swimming, but I couldn't. I couldn't believe how hard I was breathing. I wasn't sure if I had the energy to tread water, so I laid on my back and took some long deep breaths, making no attempt to move toward shore. I'm sure the people on the boat waiting were wondering why some clown would sign up for a triathlon just so he could jump in the water and float on his back. Hopefully someone on that boat was thinking about saving me.
I think it was the excitement of starting the race. If the swim was not first, I would of been fine on the start of the swim.
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fastdog5 posted 12 weeks ago.
I got some great advice on this a while back from a Trifuel thread that I can't find right now, so I'll repeat it here: First, as mentioned above, make sure you get into the water for a few minutes before the start, put your head under water, etc. This will take away the initial shock of the cold water. Secondly, and most importantly, make sure you are exhaling completely while you're swimming. Again I don't remember the specifics; something about needing to get all of the carbon dioxide out of your lungs. Plus focusing on a long, deliberate exhale will slow down your breathing. This has helped me a lot. (I am not a strong swimmer).
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TriSooner posted 12 weeks ago.
Everyone's advice is right-on. Had similar experience at first open-water. I alternate-breathe, but was practically hyperventilating and had to breathe with every left stroke. Only happened once. My 2-cents: it's in your head, it will go away.
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TriOnLife posted 12 weeks ago.
+1 on what fastdog5 said.
If I don't get in the water first and pull my wetsuit away from my neck so it fills with water I get really panicky in the swim. It's really important to get some water in there so it can warm up. Also - peeing in your wetsuit really helps (gross but we all do it, right??!).
Having a warm up swim is crucial so that you've already put your face in the water and don't have to deal with that shock.
Last but not at all least is a personal reminder to yourself that you can swim. I do this at every race because at every race my head is saying "oh NO! I can't do this! What am I doing out here??!!" and then I remind myself that my warmup swim at masters is 700 yards and I AM a swimmer and there's nothing wrong. And then I forget about it and just swim.
By the time you get out of the water the pee has washed out of the suit, the panic has washed out of the system and it's on to the bike!
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
www.breakingthetape.com/21stcenturymom
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stewarba posted 11 weeks ago.
No, No, NOO - You need more Clif Bar training!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_6tOzt-nfM
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines – Brian Tracy
2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
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diva_mom posted 11 weeks ago.
I have the exact same problem - combined with a hollow/hungry/nauseous feeling. Let me know what you find works.
Don't be so easy on yourself 'cause this one might be all that you have left
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grlawguy posted 11 weeks ago.
How long do you guys usually "warm up" prior to the swim? Does your warm up distance change for a 800 yd sprint vs a 1650 yd (1500m) Oly?
I have only done sprint races for the past three years (500-850 yd swims) and I have a "what the hell am I doing this for, this is stupid, I should just go home right now" moment that lasts for about 50-100 yards --it drives me nuts. I think it is all mental and has nothing to do (for me at least) with any apprehension of the temp of the water, the washing machine effect, etc. But I hate it. After that initial 50-100 yds., I just wind up telling myself "Shut up and swim" and "you do this and longer differences 4-5 times a week" and "slow is smooth, smooth is fast," and "my race, my pace" and then settle down; but those first 50-100 yards just suck.
[On further reflection it is clear that I have waaaaayyy too many conversations going on in my head, (thinking of Jan Brady in the Brady Bunch Movie)].
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jtrimom posted 11 weeks ago.
I feel your pain- I thought I was going to throw up when I started my swim this past weekend, I had to do the breaststroke for a few seconds before I calmed down
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TriOnLife posted 11 weeks ago.
grlawguy wrote:
I have only done sprint races for the past three years (500-850 yd swims) and I have a "what the hell am I doing this for, this is stupid, I should just go home right now" moment that lasts for about 50-100 yards --it drives me nuts. .
This made me laugh - it's exactly what happens to me only I think "OH NO! I can't do this? What am I doing out here? This is nuts! I can't DO this!" and then I remember that my typical warm up is 700 yards and I just start swimming and I'm fine.
On a sprint I don't have that because the distance of the sprint is the same as a warm up - it only happen if there is 1000 meters +.
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
www.breakingthetape.com/21stcenturymom
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iamtb13 posted 9 weeks ago.
+1 to all of you...yes even you Stewarba!
I would say it's in your head and I would say we all do it to different extents. I have done a lot of races and a lot of open water swimming and it still happens. For me it's just the excitement of the start. My mind and my body goes a little nuts. Now that I expect it to happen each race, it doesn't bother me as much and as grlawguy wrote...after the first 100 yards muscle memory takes over and I am usually fine. Having some sort of positive mantra will help a lot. One book that helped me a lot was:
The Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training (Ultrafit Multisport Training Series) by Ph.D. Jim Taylor and Terri Schneider
It had a lot of practical advice that worked for me for this type of thing and a few other areas.
I am a strong swimmer but, for some reason on race day the minute my face hits the water I seem to lose my composure and panic. I become out of breath and never seem to be able to pull it together during the swim leg of the race. Overall, I end up doing good. Always place in my age group and sometimes even better. (masters) Need help in overcoming this panic!! please help!