First OWS

[taxmuffin]

Congrats! It is all about confidence -- the more you practice, the more it will be second nature.

[sfa]

The best advice I got after my first OWS (which was not quite a disaster and complete freak-out, but pretty close) was to look at the sky when you breathe. Sure, it slows you down a little bit since you have to roll a little bit extra with each breath, but for some reason looking at the sky while doing an OWS helps me relax and, oddly, keeps me grounded.

And, yeah, breast stroke. I already do that in the pool about half the time, so doing it during an OWS is nothing different for me, but it's the stroke that makes it easier to negotiate around people.

Sarah

[roadie gal]

Just go at your own pace. Don't let the people splashing around you freak you out or push you into going faster than you want.

[Bike Chick]

make a plan for this-- do you breathe bilaterally, or only on one side?

I only breathe on one side. I've been practicing side breath, side breath, front breath, side breath, side breath, front breath, but I know that I may forget everything when I get in the water

I will picture all of you standing on shore cheering me on while I swim and repeating everything you've told me in my head. Breath in your armpit, look at the sky, stay calm, rotate, STAY CALM, breast stroke, side stroke, STAY CALM. Thanks everyone for all your help and encouragement!

[GabbyGirl]

One thing that I learned and helped me was to only think about swimming from bouy to bouy. It helps break the swim up into "doable" legs. Also, if you start to panic just roll over on your back and float--look at the sky and that will help calm you down. I thought i was going to panic but I didn't. I found that most of my anxiety came prior to getting in the water and once i was in there and swimming it turned out to be rather easy. You will do great. Try to relax and have lots of fun.

[colby]

One thing that I learned and helped me was to only think about swimming from bouy to bouy. It helps break the swim up into "doable" legs. Also, if you start to panic just roll over on your back and float--look at the sky and that will help calm you down. I thought i was going to panic but I didn't. I found that most of my anxiety came prior to getting in the water and once i was in there and swimming it turned out to be rather easy. You will do great. Try to relax and have lots of fun.

Hey Gabby, welcome to our humble abode.

[GabbyGirl]

Thanks Colby

[Bike Chick]

I practiced with the tri club at the lake tonight and swam all the way to the first bouy and back! 400 yds.....open water....without stopping....no panic attack! Woo Hoo!!! And I enjoyed it!