My OWS is improving.

Last night after work, Susan and I (and others) swam at Hagg Lake again. We are guestimating that we did about 1200 yards by swimming out to one bouy, and then swimming back and forth between that bouy and another one a couple of times before swimming back to the shore.

On the initial swim out to the bouy, I felt that familiar feeling of "omg, this is so hard...I'll never make it!" but I told myself to shut up and keep swimming. It got better (of course!). I stopped a few times to 'bob' on the first length between the bouys. On the second length, I did the whole distance without stopping (I'm getting better at sighting, too). On the third length, I decided to breathe to the opposite side. I breathe bilaterally in a pool without thinking about it but I've been doing my OWS with breathing only to the left, for some reason. So I tried going to the right and while I was able to physically do it, I immediately noticed a ton of water going into my right ear. I tried to ignore it and keep going. About half way across the length, I had to stop, tread water, remove my goggles and just relax because I was so dizzy I was fearful I'd throw up. I was nervously laughing out loud at myself because I seriously felt like the lake was tipping over! Bed spins have nothing on 'lake spins'! After a few minutes, it stopped and I continued but went back to breathing on the left. I did the whole last length, again without stopping, breathing on my left with no dizzyness.

All in all, I'm pleased with my performance. I was able to notice the same feelings as at the race (albeit not as strong) and mentally over come them. I even remembered some stroke techniques and was somewhat relaxed for most of the swim.

I think the dizziness was from the cold water in my ear. I noticed yesterday that my left earbud no longer fits in my left ear (I have very tiny ear openings and use the smallest ear buds available) so that might be why there is less of a "cold water in the ear" problem on that side. I think I might need to give earplugs a try for OWS. I can't wear any of the ones that fit in the ear (none fit!) but I might be able to do the silicone plug version. I'd like the option of breating on both sides in a race but that dizziness was seriously a problem!