Open Water Panic

[EBD]

Hi all,

I just completed my first Olympic distance tri this weekend, and while it was generally a good experience, the swim was just awful. About 10 minutes into it (an out-and-back lake swim) I had a panic attack of sorts - I couldn't breathe, was wheezing and hyperventilating, and was convinced I wasn't going to make it. I mean, I plain freaked out. At one point I even started trying to undo my wetsuit at the neck, because I felt like it was strangling me. I got through it, but I had to stop about every 4 strokes to tread water and breathe and give myself a pep talk. Once I turned the far bouy and was pointed toward the shore, however, my training kicked in and I swam right back in, no problem. But the whole ordeal took me 41 minutes - whereas my 1500m in the pool is generally more like 33-34 minutes.

Now, I am still relatively new to this type of swimming, and at this time last year I couldn't swim more than 50 yards freestyle (I breast-stroked my way through sprint tri's). But I've trained and had a little bit (1 hour) of coaching, and regularly swam 1500 and even 2000 meters freestyle in the pool, no stopping, no problems. And I've completed 4 sprints, although my swimming was often slow and never pretty, and I always had my moments of fear in the open water. But never like this. Now I'm afraid that the next time I attempt an open water swim it will be worse, because I'll remember the last time.

I had also never worn a wetsuit before, and only practiced in this (rented) one for a couple of lengths of the pool the day before the race. So the tight wetsuit around my neck was NOT helping.

But my question is - has anyone else struggled through these problems with open-water swims? How do you prepare for race day, and most importantly, how do you overcome those moments of panic once you're alone in the middle of an unfamiliar lake? I'm so traumatized, I feel like I'm going to need therapy before the next tri season!

[btchance]

Oh my goodness yes, I struggled big time in my first OWS. Major freak out. had only been in open water once before, and during my warmup felt no current, then when I got out further, current = freak out. To get over it, I turned over on my back and back stroked almost half the distance as that is my most comfortable stroke.

After that, I made sure to have lots of time in the pool (That was what I focused on to the expense of the other two). I swam with friends in close proximity to get used to that tight feeling. The next OWS I had was in a River. I had heard numerous horror stories about it, from both triathletes and boaters, and almost didn't do it. Well, once I got out there I saw that it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had been fearing. I just went out there, focused on long, smooth strokes, and on my technique. I took extra time to sight (breast stroked every 4-5 strokes to get a good look), and guess what, I improved my time dramatically.

I have race threads on these you might want to read (Wet Dog and Rocketman) and a thread in the tri forum about OWS looking for help.

If you have any more OWS w/ wetsuits, I would take more time getting used to them. Also, if possible, get some OWS experience outside of race conditions. I'm sure some of the other girls will have some more ideas

Oh, and congrats on the olympic distance!!!

[Tri Girl]

First, congrats on completing your first oly distance tri!!! You must feel very proud of yourself!!!

Second, yes, OWS and me didn't get along real well at first. Pool swimming and OWS are two different breeds, aren't they? The trick for me was doing umpteenth swims in open water this summer. My first few freaked me out a little, but now that I've done so many practice swims, races don't freak me at all. It is difficult getting used to so many people in close proximity, but I like btchance's suggestion of having friends in the pool with her to overcome that anxiety. Good one- I wish I'd thought of that!
My advice would be just to do as many OWS as possible to alleviate your fears. When I'm out there I just focus on breathing, and imagine myself being a floating manatee- rolling from side to side gracefully in the water (ridiculous, yes, but who can stress out when you're pretending to be a gliding manatee?).
Oh, and I'm sure the wetsuit didn't help! I STILL get strangled by mine occasionally. If you can practice in one more, that's great, but if not- try this: pull it up as much as possible so there's extra room at your shoulders (it'll pull down on your shoulders as you swim), and leave a couple fingers room at the neck. Hopefully next time you will breeze through your swim!!!

[KnottedYet]

I'm kind of the other way around. I freak in swimming pools, but I'm fine in real water, especially with a wetsuit on.

[lawyergirl]

Another freaker-outer here! I grew up swimming in the ocean and lakes, but now I get so freaked out being in the open water. I don't know why it is, but I am! The one thing I found that helped was that I count my strokes when I get freaked out. Usually I'm only breathing every 2 strokes when I get to that point, so in my head I say, "One, two, breathe....One, two, breathe..." I just repeat that until I get my rhythm back. I think it also helps to just keep getting out there in the open water as often as possible to make yourself feel more comfortable. You'll get there!

[Thorn]

Fear not....you are truly not alone. As others have said, practice, practice, practice. Get out in the OW as often as you can. My first tri was a disaster.

As a kid I was hydrophobic to the point that I didn't learn to swim until late teens and "swim" was a poor term for the flailing I did. While I may have had miserable strokes if my head was in the water, I had (and still have) an awesome side stroke . On my first tri the cold water (pools were always warm) and the seaweed (arggghh...it is out to get me) and the other bodies (I'll drown! I just know it!) put me into a horrendous panic. I switched to side stroke and didn't calm down until near the end.

After that I vowed to get into OW as often as I could. Inland lakes early in the year and Lake Michigan when it warmed enough to tolerate. The freaking out does go away. And, when you finish that first OWS with a mass start...the feeling of accomplishment is greater than finishing the tri itself!

[run it, ride it]

I'm kind of the other way around. I freak in swimming pools, but I'm fine in real water, especially with a wetsuit on.

I'm in the same boat. I grew up right next to a lake, swam off our sailboat in open water no prob, capsized and righted dinghy boats in rough seas without batting an eye.

I absolutely panic in pools. The goggles impair my vision, I'm anxious that people will run over me, that I will swim into the wall. The humidity tricks my asthma. I feel completely trapped. To top it off I've always got lifeguards hanging over my shoulder thinking I'm drowning when the asthma hits.