Panic in the Pond
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529 days
LongTime posted 1 year ago.
Nah, you're alright. Same thing almost happened to me twice this year, and I've done over a dozen tris. In April the water was COLD and I just couldn't catch my breath. In another one I got kicked in the head, a wave went over my head while I was breathing in, some guy tried to swim over me... borderline panic attack. I think the key is to take it easy the first 200 meters and find your own rhythm. Just "relax and swim." If you need to do some breastroke for a bit, so what?
833
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1268 days
JamieM posted 1 year ago.
Yeah, I've definitely been there. I think you handled it well. You calmed down got your bearings and went on. If I ever figure out how to avoid the stress, I'll let you know.
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1050 days
deepbluex posted 1 year ago.
The washing machine chaos can prevent you from getting a good breathing rhythm established. Also, you mention your legs were on fire - this is just my personal style but I tend to kick very little in a tri-swim and rely mostly on my upper body and back. I think kicking very hard will just tax your cardio heavily with not much payoff when it comes to a long distance swim. I kick to help shift and swing my body from one side to another but I don't really rely on kicking for propulsion.
283
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1285 days
Amy Lee posted 1 year ago.
LT, JM and DBX,
Thanks so much for your replies. It's comforting to know that other seasoned athletes continue to experience stress with the swim. I am working with a coach now one on one to help regain my confidence and learn how to relax more in the water. I am confident I can work through it now because I now know it's a breathing and relaxation issue. If only I would have known that when I was out there in the pond... oh well! Each race we are faced with new obstacles to overcome and learn from.
The burning sensation that I felt probably must have been lactic
acid accumulating in my legs. I remember kicking frantically as I was treading water. When I tried to do freestyle after that they just felt so weak and painful. I am going to try to make a concerted effort to rely less on my kick as I swim from now on.
Thanks!
Amy
477
Member
1240 days
geochuck posted 1 year ago.
Amy Lee
It can be a problem although it has never happened to me as I am and never was one to depend on leg action. I did run into problems when swimming a 400m race in Mexico City at 7000ft above sea level. The legs went vertical to the rest of my body after 300m. I had trouble doing the 400.
I did get out of a 1 mile race and so did every one else when the water was 34 degrees f.
1040
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1293 days
Tikal Dog posted 1 year ago.
That usually happens when you don´t post in Trifuel like for a gazillion months!!!! What had happened to you????
Just kidding!!! We missed ya!
Sorry to hear about the you horrible experience there. At my last tri something happened to me in the swim also. Not as frightening as your story but could never really get in my reathym . I just struggled the whole way.
I hear of a few training exercises recommend to prevent this and they included a bunch of sit-ups and pushups at the deck before hitting the water, then doing 2 x100 at full speed and then... start your swim session. If I don´t remember wrong this was on Triathlete magazine like 3 months ago. It was ment to train you for washing machine chaos.
Of course there is always the option of getting a few guys and trying to recreate the cliffbar add on tv!!!! :D
Hyperactive Trifueler!!!! (I refuse to let the status go :p)
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434 days
homey posted 1 year ago.
Had it for the first time this year at my first open water swim of the year. Didn't get a chance to swim in wetsuit 'til the race. I was with four buddies and we were joking around. When the horn sounded we all rushed away. Big mistake... 3 of the four of us (the better swimmers no less) all had panic attacks. I had to hang on to a floating device. We all went out too fast. Lesson learned. We all go out slow and steady and pick it up later once we're in a groove. No panic attacks since... Good luck and take it slow.
283
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1285 days
Amy Lee posted 1 year ago.
Tikal Dog;73406 wrote:
That usually happens when you don´t post in Trifuel like for a gazillion months!!!! What had happened to you????Just kidding!!! We missed ya!
! :D
Hey TD,
I got lost in the "Question for the trifuel women thread" and just found my way home. Boy oh boy it's hard to navigate through 3000 plus posts! :D
Nah, I guess I got out of the loop because we were moving around so much. I also started teaching spin and have spent much of my free time checking out cool music on i tunes.
After this last incident, I realize how much I need my trifuel family for support. I don't feel like such a misfit knowing that other people have had similar scary experiences.
That boot camp type warm up sounds interesting but I don't think I could do it. I will look for that article though!
Thanks for the great welcome!
Amy
283
Member
1285 days
Amy Lee posted 1 year ago.
homey;73563 wrote:
Had it for the first time this year at my first open water swim of the year. Didn't get a chance to swim in wetsuit 'til the race. I was with four buddies and we were joking around. When the horn sounded we all rushed away. Big mistake... 3 of the four of us (the better swimmers no less) all had panic attacks. I had to hang on to a floating device. We all went out too fast. Lesson learned. We all go out slow and steady and pick it up later once we're in a groove. No panic attacks since... Good luck and take it slow.
Wow,
You too! I think that "rush" part of it is very important also. I prefer starting in the water. I think it's easier to find your space and rhythym.
A friend of mine told me to think of the swim as a warm up and start the real race on the bike. Your advice is great. Start slow and pick it up once everything is warmed up and under control. Will do!
Thanks!
Amy
597
Member
1345 days
qb ant posted 1 year ago.
Hey Amy-
Welcome Back!!!!! The only time I had a panic attack was at my first try quite some time ago. Every now and then though, if the conditions are not so good, I can feel one coming on. I think the key is to do exactly what you did- stop, calm down, regroup and then try to find your rhythm.
Ant
Reading that "Question for the TF Ladies" thread is kind of like your punishment for being gone too long - : D
"90% of the game is half mental" Yogi Berra
283
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1285 days
Amy Lee posted 1 year ago.
qb ant;73631 wrote:
Hey Amy-Reading that "Question for the TF Ladies" thread is kind of like your punishment for being gone too long - : D
Hey Ant,
Aw.. do I have to?
That's pretty much the worst sentence you could give me!
Can I pleeeeeeeease rejoin the club without reading it? :D
Amy
597
Member
1345 days
qb ant posted 1 year ago.
Okay, we'll go easy on you, you don't have to read the whole thing. But you'll have to supply the GU at any future TGGW gagtherings!
"90% of the game is half mental" Yogi Berra
Wow, it's been a while since I've been here. Great to see many of my old friends still here!
Today I did a sprint tri in a pond that had a mass start from the shore line. I was a bit disorganized at the start and I didn't position myself over to the side like I usually do when I race. Well, I inadvertently got myself mixed up in the chaos of the washing machine. There was skin flying all over the place, people doing butterfly and breaststroke which was really weird. I am used to doing races with more streamlined swimmers wearing wetsuits. I never got "my space" I started treading water...hyperventillating and then both my legs felt like they were on fire. They were burning with excruciating pain and it felt like the water was pulling me downward. If I hadn't been wearing a wetsuit -it would have been very ugly.
I couldn't get the strength to swim so I called the kayakers. They came to my rescue. As I held on to the kayak, I calmed down and the blood started flowing back to my lower limbs. I was able to complete the swim and rest of the race pretty strong.
I am not a beginner. This is my 3rd season, 20th race and I still seem to have issues with the swim. I think i need a tri shrink!
Anybody else ever experience anything like this?
Any pointers for working through a panic attack?
Amy