Crash course in swimming

[teigyr]

Ok...yet another question. I got my wetsuit (will get it tomorrow!) and swam yesterday for the first time in years. My tri is in 3 weeks. Well, 2.5 weeks.

I felt awkward in the water. I got winded and did maybe 5-7 laps in a 25 yard pool. I switched strokes but OH did I feel it in my arms and shoulders! I was also having difficulty planning my breathing as I swam. I felt as ungraceful as ever and I am not graceful even in the best of circumstances.

Yes, I waited until THE last minute. I figured 1/2 mile of swimming was nothing. I have been cycling and running and have those two covered though I know I will feel shaky on the day of the tri.

I decided I must swim as much as possible, not to build up muscles (too late for that) but to get comfortable. I will swim tomorrow a.m. in a pool, go to open water in the wetsuit on sunday, and will swim maybe 4 more times after that before the tri.

What should I focus on? Can I make much of a difference in this short period of time? I am bad...the weather has been so great I've opted to run and be on my bike instead of indoors at the gym. How long does 1/2 mile feel? It feels like nothing when running but when I think of swimming it, I get very nervous.

Help?

[limewave]

I count my strokes as I go. One, two, three-breathe--one, two, three-breathe. It helped me to get over the "awkwardness" and enabled me to focus on stretching forward in a nice steady pace. I think just getting acclimated to the water will build up your confidence and that will help tremendously on your swim portion.

But, you know, I've only done one tri so I'm not an expert

[swimming lily]

First...calm down, if you can be prepared mentally for the open water swim, you'll be fine. I feel like I just get pushed along with all the energy at the start of the race!

It's a great idea to practice in the open water as much as possible, in the body of water where the race is if possible. Also, practice sighting - look ahead at a fixed point (the bouy during competition) every 15 strokes or so to swim straight. Also, if you can practice with a big group, or with a friend swimming REALLY close to you, that will get you used to the crowded swim course.

The swim usually flies by really fast for me because I get so excited, but just make sure you can do the distance without stopping, and have a back up stroke (mine is the breast stroke) besides freestyle, and be prepared to use it, to calm down and breathe during the race.

Good luck!

[teigyr]

Thanks. I've been snorkeling (though back in '01) and open water never scared me. Then again, I wasn't with a lot of people intent on being faster than me.

So I guess my question is this. Can a person who isn't swim conditioned swim 1/2 mile?

I think when I tried to practice, I was stressed and trying to prove something so I was moving my arms and legs as quickly as I could. BIG mistake!

Part of me wants to wuss out of this but then how could I justify the wetsuit purchase? And the clothing purchases? And...everything else

I used to run competitively and racing makes me nervous. So this is not a race. I just need to keep saying that. Would I be as intimidated by a group of friends meeting up to do a simulated tri?

[KSH]

Well, you are probably not going to like my feedback here... and maybe I shouldn't be so honest... but here it goes...

Swimming is probably one of the hardest of the 3 disciplines to pick up. Unfortunately, you may have learned this a little too late.

You see, on the bike, you can just slow down... on the run you can walk if you need to... but on the swim it's do or die time. You can't fake it out there in the water... and poor form means that you go no where fast and fatigue sets in quickly.

The other part of the swim is that this is where you can seriously endanger yourself. You can drown out there. And if you are caught in a group and the kayaks don't see you go under and you panic... you can drown. Plain and simple. That's why I'm not going to candy coat my reply here.

I have seen too many people post on Beginner Triathlete (BT) about how they freaked in open water and how they got a panic attack. Maybe you won't, but you won't know till you get out there in the water. And by then it might be too late.

On BT we have had family members/friends post about their friends who are about to do a tri... and they are worried because their friend has not practiced enough to successfully complete the swim. And you know what we tell them... we tell them that if that person is not ready to swim the distance in open water, that person is endangering their life and advise against it.

Obviously, you are going to do the race, and hopefully you will make it out of the water. It probably won't be pretty, but you will hopefully make it out OK.

With that said, I strongly urge you to get a Swim Safe belt. That way, if you get paniced and feel your life is in danger, you can enact the flotation device and be OK. You will be DQ'd from the race, but better alive than dead. Right?

I'm sorry if my reply wasn't very positive or "you can do it", but I just felt like it needed to be laid out on the table... because swimming isn't that easy and it can mean you drowning.

[rocknrollgirl]

I have to agree with KSH. I have been sitting on my reply for a few hours, trying to word my reply correctly. I think that you have fallen into a common trap, one that I have seen over and over again. " It is only a 1/2 mile swim, how hard can it be?"

Well, if you are not a swimmer it is hard. My husband is a good swimmer, and did his first tri with me in July. He was ready for the swim and still had a tough time getting in the water with several hundred people. I do not think that 2.5 weeks is enough time to get ready.

I think that if you are not ready, that it is going to be dangerous. I have not ever seen or used a swim safety belt, but if you are going to race, it sounds like the only safe option to me.

There will always be another race, your safety is the most important thing.

Ruth

[teigyr]

Actually DH suggested the Swimsafe and I think I will get it.

Thank you all for your opinions and these are things, of course, I need to hear.

I'm going to swim tomorrow and I'll do some open water swimming on sunday. DH can go with me in the kayak. Depending on how these go, I will reevaluate.

Now here's an idea...what if I change to the "supersprint"? This would lower my swim from .46 miles to .23. The bike would be 8 miles and the run 2.3. The sprint would challenge me, granted, but maybe the shorter version would be better?

I've known people who have done this tri and say it's no big deal. I'll see how it goes and if I can comfortably do 15-20 laps in the pool.

[roadie gal]

1/2 mile is 18 laps (36 lengths) in a 25 yrd pool. Time yourself doing that, then try to picture swimming for that length of time in open water. It's a pretty rough estimate, but it may give you an idea of what you have to be able to do timewise.

[KSH]

1/2 mile is 18 laps (36 lengths) in a 25 yrd pool. Time yourself doing that, then try to picture swimming for that length of time in open water. It's a pretty rough estimate, but it may give you an idea of what you have to be able to do timewise.

So, that's 900 yards. That's not a short distance to swim, especially if you aren't conditioned for it. I'm a pretty fast swimmer (200 yards in a pool- completed in 3:10), and in OW that would take me 18 minutes. And in my AG I typically place 1-4th coming out of the water. BTW- I was a competitive swimmmer.

Now, I'm not saying all of that to brag... I'm just saying it to you give you (Teigyr) a sense of how long it make take you in OW. It's a LONG swim.

Now here's an idea...what if I change to the "supersprint"? This would lower my swim from .46 miles to .23. The bike would be 8 miles and the run 2.3. The sprint would challenge me, granted, but maybe the shorter version would be better?

See how you do in the pool. If you can't swim the distance without feeling dead... because a pool is a lot easier to swim in... then go for the super sprint.

In the end it's your choice... but being safe is always number 1.

[Starfish]

I think everyone has covered this well...just gonna throw in my (limited) experience, 'cause, well this is a discussion forum!

First, I have never done a Tri.

But, about swimming: I used to be a competitive swimmer a million years ago in school, and then a million years ago in my 20s with Masters. I swam distance, and was not anywhere near the top of my team, but not horrible. My 200 free time in the pool was 2:20 or so, and 2:38 or so for 200 IM. 500 free about 6:30 minutes. Maybe 12 minutes for 800. Now I'm in my forties. I rarely swam at all through my 30s, so although I am a swimmer and a cyclist, I got OUT of shape for swimming. There is a big difference. (Edited to add that I mention the times to make the point that I can't imagine how long an 800 in the pool would take me now, let alone open water...I know I would find it VERY tiring without having trained. And, not a chance I could do those times now.)

This past February, I decided to do some cross training in the pool during the crummy weather. I was astounded at how out of shape I was for the pool. It was a wake-up. Now, over a 2 month period, swimming about twice a week, I bounced back...not anywhere near to competition speed or fitness ...but my stamina built up a little bit before I quit swimming again to do the bike. But, after being away so long, it took more than 2 weeks before a steady 800 felt anything like normal. And, of course that's pool, not open water. And I'm an experienced swimmer. And, when I pushed it, I felt those familiar little leg cramp twinges, reminding me that flutter kick, dolphin kick, breast stroke kick are a whole different ball game than spinning circles on a bike.

So, although I'm not a Triathlete (yet ), I thing the ladies here have given good advice. Most folks don't just jump in and do a straight 800 easily if they haven't been swimming. Even the 400 might be a challenge, I don't know.

(If you do the swim, consider checking out a 2-beat kick or a 4-beat cross to keep from toasting your legs if you're not used to it.)

Be safe. An ill-timed cramp in open water would be nothing to play with. Sorry this got so long.

[Starfish]

What should I focus on?

Again, the Tri ladies would need to weigh in here...as I am not one!

But, I would think you might want to consider finding your rhythm with a less than all out kick. See if a 2 beat kick or a 4-beat cross might work for you.

See if you can make a difference in energy expenditure by slicing your hand into the water with the least amount of resistance. I can't describe here, really, but play around with slicing in and forward, rather than trying to reach ALL the way out above the water before splashing in.

Pull through to the side of your hip in longer strokes. As with riding, breathing rhythm and using your diaphragm can make a big difference.

[teigyr]

Starfish, no that wasn't long at all.

Everyone I've talked to says it's challenging but they spent a lot of time on their backs or sides and it was ok. I have no problem doing a backstroke (though it's difficult to see where I'm going!) and I find it really comfy.

I also read up on 2 stroke and had no idea of the whole mechanics of swimming. I took lessons when I was young but that was a long time ago

It all makes sense. I'm not racing but I understand it is risky if I'm not ready to do that distance. Before I know I was kicking my feet too much trying to go "fast". Tomorrow morning I will work on form, go slow, and see how far I can go. I'll probably mix it up but will try not to touch the ground or sides except to turn.

Being a SoCal person, I used to swim a lot but it was unstructured and way back when. I used to be in the ocean along with in pools. I never recall ever having problems though I never tried to do anything except have fun. Tomorrow I will not view it as "race" but leisurely swim.

I did learn from my swimming the other day that it makes you thirsty. Go figure

[Starfish]

I did learn from my swimming the other day that it makes you thirsty. Go figure

Yep!! And, even though I used to swim 'til I puked, these days, it just makes me HUNGRY!!

[teigyr]

I got up early this morning (am really really not a morning person), grabbed a balance bar and water bottle with cytomax, and went to the gym. I wore the suit I'll wear in the tri. I thought of different strategies to keep track of the laps and away I went

I went, I believe, 21 laps. I was going to intially do a different stroke for each lap so I could count in groups. That changed because I was dodging people and passing, etc. I tried to make it realistic, as realistic as pool swimming can be. Freestyle got MUCH better with practice. I relaxed, tried to make my arms be efficient, and got better at kicking and breathing. Breaststroke was good but it does take shoulder strength. Toward the end, I barely had to backstroke at all. I hit my head HARD on a stair corner while sidestroking, apparently I drift Anyway, it hurt and I got water in my mouth. I rectified it without touching my feet to the ground.

I did the 2nd to the last lap (20) trying to keep up with the big guys/gals in the swim lane. I'm slow. I tried though! Then my last lap I did ONLY freestyle. It was ok and I could've gone longer. It actually felt good.

When I got out, I can tell how being in the water can make you react differently NOT in the water. I wasn't fatigued or dizzy or anything though.

I admit I accidently touched the sides a few times and I did stop for a few seconds at lap 17 because I was trying to count.

I might go tomorrow again or is that too soon? I think if I can do 30 or 35 laps, it would be good. Or else I could do it next monday or tuesday and run tomorrow instead. Or swim tomorrow and run. Sunday will be open water. Is swimming bad on back to back days?

Thank you all again, I need both sides of this. I love the support but I need realism too if it needs to be there.

[KSH]

I certainly commend you on your dedication and willingness to try to get up to speed for the swim portion of the race. You seem very determined and that's half the battle sometimes.

Now... next time... do this about 3 months out from the race *evil grin*.

Back to back swim days will not hurt you. But keep in mind, you can only cram so much in and get so much out of it.

The good thing is that swimming is not running... you probably won't get injured from doing swimming back to back days.

You don't sound like you are doing that bad in the water. It could be a lot worse.