First time at the Olympic Distance
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Tamara posted 1 year ago.
I'm a totally slow swimmer, and just did my first Oly of the season two weeks ago with a 1mi time of around :37 (I'm telling you that to show that I don't consider anything less than 30min to be a slow swim!). I'm also the queen of panicking during the swim and feeling like I should be going much faster than I am (no matter what my current speed).
Best thing you can do, in my mind, is keep consciously telling yourself that a mile is a distance event. Don't let yourself get swept up into trying to sprint through the water and wear yourself out. You'll lose more time on the bike and run if you're already bonking and exhausted than if you just slowed down and did a nice easy swim. Also, that let's a lot of folks sprint ahead of you that you'll then catch on the bike/run.
Good luck - let us know how you do!
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan
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IHAVETO posted 1 year ago.
Pre-race jitters :) Like you said, you've done this before... it's just going to be another fifteen or so minutes longer in the water than the sprints of the past. "Stay in your race". In a mass start you'll be in "the washing machine" for a little bit longer so position yourself on the edges of the pack at the start. Just remember you've done this before. I hope you have a great time! Good luck!!
Ouch, My everything!
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triNick posted 1 year ago.
I agree with IHAVETO. If you are nervous about the swim mass start then start toward the edges or the back. You don't want to use excess energy trying to get through the washing machine effect if you are not use to it. If you start towards the edges your should be able to find some open water.
Good Luck!
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RV posted 1 year ago.
Also agree with seeding yourself to the side/back. The other big thing is to try to control your pace(breathing) right from the start - it is oh so easy to get swept up at the start and go out way too hard - then you are in for a tougher swim.
I was told once to wait 2-3 seconds after the start to go - let the initial rush go by - tho that doesn't work well if there are people immediately behind you, so again where you seed yourself makes all the difference.
Just be confident that you can do the distance and you'll be out of the water before you know it.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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Iron Dan posted 1 year ago.
Something that has always worked for me is to consciously try to slow your stroke down. You want it to feel like your stroke cadence is half as fast as it typically is. The tendency in a mass start is to speed your stoke up and then you are out of breath right off the bat and have set yourself up for a terrible swim. By focusing on slowing your stroke down at the beginning and having that be your only thought, you will probably feel like you are swimming very slowly, but you will actually be swimming at you typical swim pace.
This is what I have found to be true for myself.
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trimedic posted 1 year ago.
Thank you for the advise. I can't believe how nervous I am for this.
Ugh! I'll let you know how it goes.:o
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catwood posted 1 year ago.
Just relax. Seed yourself appropriately. Ignore the washing machine and pretend you are swimming in your own little bubble.
Focus on nice clean smooth strokes.
I've had swim coaches tell me this before races:
"Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast."
In my experience, its the MOPers that are the worst about starting the swim with an outrageous crazy sprint. Let them go and stay out of it and you'll catch many of them later in the swim.
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LongTime posted 1 year ago.
The thing I notice about an Oly swim is how long it seems compared to sprints. By comparison you're in the water for awhile, maybe 30 or so minutes for the average person. The key, imo, is to relax, focus on technique and controlled breathing, and just swim. It's easy to go too fast, hyperventilate, and be left gasping for air. Find your own pace and get into a groove. If you're feeling good in the last few hundred meters, then pick it up. Best of luck!
Man, it's been a long time since I have been to this site...:)
I am going to be doing my first Olympic Distance race this Sunday. I am a bit nervouse for it. I have done the bike route several times, I've run the distance and know that this course is fairly fast but the mass start and lake swim...that's making me nervous. I have swam the distance before in the pool and did a bit of time trial the other day at the lake but I'm still feeling nervous.
Anyone have any good tips for a mass start, pacing myself and just tips in general for that distance? I've done sprints for the last three years so I'm not completely new to triathlon but this longer distance has me a bit nervous as if I've never races before.
Thanks.:D