talk to me about swimming under stress

[lph]

Thank you so much, for really constructive tips! I will try them out. I knew swimming was my weakest point, but I had forced myself to do open water swims in advance, by myself, in cold water, and up to twice the length of the race distance, and was feeling pretty confident than I could handle it. I'm not used to close contact, but training in a pool I had experienced light contact quite often. What I hadn't reckoned on was how my normal tendency to get highstrung before any performance (race, presentation at work, even catching a plane the next morning) would affect my breathing, and how essential controlled breathing is to swimming. On a bike you can just gasp away until it goes away. I think the worst thing was hearing everybody else panting around me, it just "told" me that I should keep the same rhythm

I somehow have to try to replicate that kind of adrenaline spike, and try to work through swimming with it. The best thing to do would be to start in a tri with the only goal of starting in back and doing the swim with relaxed breathing...

It really helps hearing that this is kinda sorta normal!

[colby]

VERY normal. I see it a lot in races, both as a racer and a kayaker. A friend of mine practiced in the pool, felt very comfortable, but froze after the starter went off in her first race to the point where she was pretty resigned to just get up and back out of the water. A very amazing kayaker talked her off the ledge and she was able to regain composure.

I breaststroked the entire way in my first triathlon and I AM comfortable in the water. Something about the adrenaline and anticipation. It DOES get better. You DO get used to it, and I think exposure helps. I still get an adrenaline rush, but it does not affect my swimming as long as I am comfortable swimming that distance and confident in my training. Sometimes when I'm not, it lets doubt creep in and the adrenaline starts to get to me.

I focus on eliminating unknowns in order to get rid of what's left: training for the distance, racing that distance previously, not doing anything for the first time, analyzing the situation, placing myself appropriate for the race. I also try to focus on my own race and not the people around me - rarely is the race won on the swim, and I can always catch people on the bike and try to create a gap between me and whoever I want to race against, if anyone.

[lph]

re mantras: I have a running mantra just like roo4s, that goes "strength power joy!". I started with "strength power focus" but realized that focus is the last thing I need, I need to focus less, and enjoy more! So I added "joy" to remind me that I like moving and I like challenging myself, and that it's all supposed to be joyful and fun.

The first time I swam in open water by myself the place was deserted, the water was still black and spooky, and it was cold, harmless with a wetsuit on, but scary anyway. I had recently read about the first woman to run a marathon, and how the men around here protected her from irate officials, and I'd been listening to Muse as I biked to the lake. So I ended up with their song "Invincible" stuck in my head, and the picture of this woman running with a set of "bodyguards" around her - worked very well indeed

Now I need a mantra or thought that will tie in with rapid breathing. Working on it

This looks like a very useful link, on what makes tri swim starts different from other swimming:
http://www.active.com/triathlon/Arti...Swim_Start.htm

[Melalvai]

That's a cool story about Katherine Switzer & the Boston marathon.

How about "breathe power joy"? I've had good outcomes with mantras. Yesterday on a bike ride I came up with a new one-- all lies-- but I have a theory that if I tell myself these they'll become true. It goes, "My work is meaningful. My career fulfills me. I love my job." etc.

Right away I felt better about my job!

[HillSlugger]

Tri Girl has great tips!

I did my first few OWS races mostly sidestroke because I would start to panic and not be able to breathe if I put my face in the water. Fine in practice, a basket case in a race. Last race, second season, I finally swam the whole thing freestyle.

I still have moments where I'll start thinking that I can't finish and then I remind myself to slow down, calm myself, and swim my own race.

At this point in your tri career, instead of "breathe power joy" I would suggest "breathe, calm, joy" or "Keep Calm and Carry On".

If you stick with it, it will get better.

Good luck!

[gnat23]

Heh reminds me of the ol' Clif Tri Swim Training video.

-- gnat! (I felt like I was in a zombie movie during my swim start, considering all the anklegrabs...)

[Dogmama]

Heh reminds me of the ol' Clif Tri Swim Training video.

-- gnat! (I felt like I was in a zombie movie during my swim start, considering all the anklegrabs...)

Funny!

[lph]

Heh reminds me of the ol' Clif Tri Swim Training video.

-- gnat! (I felt like I was in a zombie movie during my swim start, considering all the anklegrabs...)

ok this was HILARIOUS Thankfully the ladies sprint is indeed a little more ladylike. Someone did try to actually swim right over me for quite a while from behind, but since I was breaststroking I think I kicked her more than she (or he, a few guys doing the relay) whacked me.