After spending months in the pool, spending a couple of hundred bucks on a wetsuit I finally had my first experience in the open water. I would give myself an F.
I arrived late due to work (imagine that) and the group was already well into their swim. There was an option to swim back and forth from the dock to the first bouy (200m). So I thought this would be okay, its only 400m total. Well, i got in the water and my heart raced to a speed I had never felt before. I simply could not relax at all. I took off toward the bouy in hopes I would work into the pace, nope, I freaked out and headed toward the dock. I tried a second trip to the bouy and got about half way and then turned around. By this time the group was returning from their swim and it looked like sharks at the kill so I decided to get out and attempt to relax. Two hours later my heart was still racing. As I reflect on these events I feel like an absolute failure. I know it'll get easier with time but my ego and confidence has taken a severe shotgun blast.
the staring man wrote:Well,
[quote=the staring man]Well, i got in the water and my heart raced to a speed I had never felt before. I simply could not relax at all.[/quote]
Very common. Even with experience, my HR still can get way out of control in OWS races. Tribro wrote something about this a few days ago, but it has to do with breathing/holding your breath. As he aluded to, an elevated HR on the bike or run can be controlled by slowing down. An elevated HR on the swim stays elevated because if you slow down, you sink. Once your HR gets out of control on the swim it is hard, if not impossible, to get back under control. It takes practice and experience in paying attention to PRE (preceived rate of exertion) and how it effects your HR and keeping both in a manageable range, which is hard because you are going purely by feel (ie, no checking your HRM during a race). For example, your PRE may be low, but your HR may be pushing into anaerobic/VO2 max/hypoxic territory. Not good. At that point, ignore PRE and focus on getting HR and breathing under control. Also, knowing when (and how) to slow down, reach-and-glide or just roll-over and fake a back stroke to get breathing back under control, and maybe ditch the alternate breathing. Oh yeah, and thinking about all of the above with 500 people swimming over you while swim blindly in a murky lake trying to negotiate a 180* turn. Yippee!
Oh my friend I understand
Oh my friend I understand where you are coming from! First off, you are not a failure! Simply getting into the water is a huge accomplishment! Just a few questions, where you in an ocean, lake, or river? Are you training for a triathlon, if so, when is it? Were you swimming parallel to the shore or swimming straight out to sea?
I had my first OWS two weeks ago and I kept it real simple! I swam in Long Beach (CA) bay where it is calm but murky (similar to my race conditions, from what they tell me). I swam parallel to the beach and stayed close to shore. I too freaked out the moment I put my head in the water and couldn't see a thing! All I could imagine was running into some terrible creature below. It helped that I was with a friend to help calm me down. I did a 500m swim and each time I started to freak out, I stopped, and took a few moments. I even doggy paddled a few times. I also found if I concentrated on my stroke, it helped me not think about being in OW. I was never so happy as when I exited the water but felt good that I at least got in the water! The following weekend I did it again and it was better but still I have to talk my way through it.
For your next swim, try to go with someone who can stay with you. At least I found it comforting knowing I had someone next to me. Just keep remembering, you know you CAN swim the distance, you've done it in a pool, it's just a matter of getting use to being in the OW and relaxing.
Well here is something I can
Well here is something I can relate to! I as well was feeling anxious before my first OWS so got in the water and did a couple 100 meter sprints. I thought this felt decent as I could still see the bottom of the lake. After warming up I set off with the others to the other side of the lake.(550 meters) First sign of a meltdown was once it got a bit deeper and no longer could see the bottom. Next was looking up to sight and realizing your in the middle of the lake and no end of the pool to grab onto. Panic quickly ensued and turned around to go back to the beach. I was extremely disappointed in myself and was lucky to have someone want to swim again the next day. I was determined to get across that lake and back. Next day swam much slower than my regular pace and kept telling myself to stay relaxed. I made it! That was 5 OWS ago. Im now swimming the full loop (2200meters) with full confidence. I guess my point is its just a matter of experience. A couple more swims and the confidence with be there. Best of luck.
don't be so hard on
don't be so hard on yourself. it was your first OWS! think about other "firsts" you have had...sometimes they work out well, sometimes the end in utter failure. the important thing is what you do with the failure. at first, i was terrified to get my bike over 30 mph on downhills (i would envision my front wheel popping off and me flying head long into the concrete!) so i'd brake through down hills, as my riding partner sailed off in front of me. now after many many miles, and many, many downhills, I can sail down--and even try to see how fast i can go!
can you go back and just goof around in the water, with no workout goals for those swims? I often set up performance expectations and it shoots me in the foot...where if i just go out with the attitude of "have fun", i often do!
also, stay close to the shore...so if you freak out, you can just stand up!
good luck!
I go through the same thing.
I go through the same thing. I got the distance all day in a pool but open water can be crazy. Just wait till you start with a wave of other triathletes. Just keep swimming, like Nemo. I wish you luck in conquering this.
Same here! You get big props
Same here! You get big props for getting some OWS experience before a race. My first OWS was in a triathlon, with some really cold water. My heart rate went through the roof, I had a panic attack and struggled to breathe, and apparently without a black line to guide me, I couldn't swim in a straight line. But the next swim was better, and the one after that better still.
You've gotten past the unknown. Now you know what to expect, and you'll be better prepared to deal with it. Get back in the open water as much as you can, and remember you're doing this for fun!