OWS is a different animal

I went down to the lake for only my second OWS this season. I figured I should do it a few more times before the tri on July 15th.:o

An OWS is a completely different animal than swimming in the pool. It's not just because there's no wall to push off of and it's a LOT colder.

First, there's swimming in a wetsuit. Mine is sleeveless, so it's not restrictive at all. But it just FEELS different. That may be a "duh", but it changes my technique. I can't tell whether I'm still swimming properly.

Second, it's the boaters, kayakers, jet skiers, etc. that you have to keep an eye out for. I just assume that jet skiers are drunk no matter how early in the morning. I also have to assume that no matter how loud a pink my swim cap is, I'm invisible. So along with my usual spotting to see where the heck I am, I'm also poking my head up a lot to watch out for people.

Third, I didn't have a swimming buddy. There were a lot of people around the lake, but I was still a little nervous.

I was exhausted after only 30 minutes of swimming. Do you ladies get more tired in the open water, too? I remember the race swim being easier than swimming alone, but it's been a while (the swim was cancelled on my first race this year). Tell me the race will be easier than today... please...

Yes, it is different.

I personally hate swimming in a wetsuit. It changes my stroke. I know it does, because I get this muscle in my upper arm that feels sore after I swim in a wetsuit. Very odd.

It will be easier on race day, because you won't have to worry about getting run over by a boat or something. On that note, BE CAREFUL! So dangerous swimming alone. If you don't already, it might be wise to invest in a Swim Safe belt.

I also find that in open water I can't feel the mechanics of my stroke like I can in a pool. In perfectly calm water I can feel everything about my stroke, the entry, the glide portion... I can find a nice groove and cruise. In open water, I can't feel any of that and I basically just go for it.

Don't worry about it, Roadie. On race day everything is different, including the boredom level (or lack thereof). On a good day, you can kind of feel swept along - you can actually find yourself in a drafting situation, to a certain extent. Of course, I haven't done one in 2 years, so what so I know. Anyway, just go for it, and an your race will go by much quicker than an ows by yourself. As far as getting tireder in open water goes, well, you can't do flip turns, and it can get fairly wavey, which is tiring. It's normal.

By the way - be VERY careful out there swimming alone. I've been swimming all my life, but I don't think I'd go alone, except at a pool, especially with jet skis & speed boats around. It sounds like you are making all the correct assumptions, though. Okay, so not all jet skiers are drunk (I have to keep telling myself that, since I have a friend/former co-worker who is heavily into that - I try to be open-minded, but it just doesn't come naturally), but better to assume the worst, if it keeps you safer. I just did an ows tonight, with my DH and my friend - even with 3 of us, we're continually checking on each other - machines aren't the only hazards out there.

I've been doing my OWS practice swims with a kayaker, which helps me feel more secure. As long as I can see the kayaker and spot where I'm going, I feel better. We have BRIGHT RED kayaks and try to stick to the end of the lake, so at least we have a chance against the skiers and wakeboarders. ;) The wakeboarders seem to be the ones that circle the perimeter of the lake the most.

It always feels so nice to swim in a pool after open water. I feel so smooth, and I don't feel like my technique sucks as much as it seems to in open water. :) I'm still debating the wetsuit, I really appreciate the warmth and buoyancy but it's a little strange on my arms and I don't know if it's worth the effort to get off for a sprint -- on the other hand, I'm trying to get used to swimming in it, so all of my OW swims have been in it. I too have a tri on July 15th, so I have another ~2 weeks to decide.

You can (if your pool is set up for it) simulate an open water swim by swimming loops rather than laps. From having done open water swimming, pool loops and laps, laps are a *lot* easier. You get a bit of a break on every turn. The pool where I learned to swim had upper level swimming students do pool loops as part of the final tests to make *sure* the students were really drown proofed. It was exhausting, just like the lake swimming I've done.

Expect to be hungrier after, and if you're practicing open water swim in a lake or unheated pool do *not* swim alone. It's possible for the water to be cold enough to give you hypothermia even in the middle of summer (learned that one the hard way).