Pool Tri vs. Group OWS

[colby]

I was torn on this at first, but I think I agree with sfa. So many people panic unexpectedly during the swim start that I think if it really is a race simulation the mass-ish start is something that could be invaluable. Your first time, transitions will be relatively slow compared to your second, third, etc, anyway, and you can totally practice those at home (once a week - or more often - when you get out of the pool/practice swim, practice transitioning to your bike, same for bike/run, etc).

I did not expect to panic the first time I got in the water with other people. I was a strong swimmer and had pool swam with other people plenty of times and practice open water swam, but I got completely overwhelmed once people started moving. I was able to get in and breastroke the entire thing (which is more than I can say for a lot of people their first time), but I was way more panicked than I expected.

The only way to get used to open water swimming with other people is... open water swimming with other people. If you're good with race anxiety and comfortable with open water, this would erase one other big variable. I think there's less to mess up in a transition (unless you are trying to win) than there is the risk of freak-out-on-GO (I wonder if there's an official term for that kind of performance anxiety).

[sfa]

...freak-out-on-GO (I wonder if there's an official term for that kind of performance anxiety).

I think you just coined a good one: F.O.O.G.

[HillSlugger]

I also agree that the "preview" would best prepare you for your real triathlon. If at all possible try to set up your own transition area and try to do a timely transition from event to event. If necessary, ask DH to watch over your stuff while you are on the course.

ETA, FOOG is a great phrase!

[Tri Girl]

I also agree with doing the open water preview. The more OWS practice you can get, the better. We've done two Splash and Dashes with our tri club the last few weeks. Just to let people who are new to triathlon get a feel for OWS and a race we're having next weekend. So many of the new people commented on how different open water is compared to the pool and they were so glad they did it in a "race simulation."

How fun!!! Have a great time and tell us all about it when you get done!

[Alex]

I learned today that there will be 3 open water swim clinics in the next couple of weeks. (And they're free!) I reserved a spot in two of them. It would be really easy, given the location, to take my bike and take a ride immediately after the clinic. I'm wondering if that would be a good enough race simulation?

The first one is the day before the pool tri closes, so I wouldn't have to decide until then if I want to do the race. OTOH, it might be good to know at the beginning of the week if I'll be racing on Saturday or not.

FWIW, I had a swim lesson today and asked my instructor what he thought. He recommended doing the race so that I would get used to swimming during a race. I suspect he has a point. Bike racing or running gives a sense of performance during competition, but is a bit different than how it would feel to swim in competition.

Do you all think the OWS clinics would be a good race-simulation? I've never been to anything like that.

Thanks!

Alex