Swim Problems

[Gret1122]

I was in a tri on sunday and the swim was 600 yds. I practiced over this distance in the weeks prior to the tri and was swimming a 13 minute 600 yds but when I began the swim I guess I panicked and could not catch my breath the whole time. I would back stroke thinking i would recover but I never did. It took me a very disappointing 18 minutes to get out of the freaking water. Now this is not my first tri and my other tris were in the 900 yd. swim range. My breathing was the same in those starting out but later got better.
I need help!! Any tips?? I am fine when it is just me and some friends but when it is race time I cannot breathe.
My bike was 19.5 mph and I had a good run but the swim was bringing me down.

[KSH]

Well, it sounds like you had a panic attack in the open water.

How do you fix that? I can only tell you what I think will work... although, I have to say that none of it has worked for my boyfriend... but it might work for you:

1) Swim in open water more. Get in practice before race day.

2) Talk yourself through the swim. Tell your body to do what it has done in the pool. Stroke-stroke-breathe. Remind yourself that you are a swimmer and you can do this.

That's all I got... anyone got anything else?

[Wahine]

As KSH said, you need to get out in open water regularly. The best thing to do is to find some swimming buddies to go out with you. Don't be in a hurry. Get comfortable roll around in the water, breast stroke, back stroke whatever. Think like an otter, the water is a playground. Once you're more comfortable, start racing a bit with your friends. When that's comfortable start purposefully running into each other, swimming over each other and basically beating each other up in the water while making some sort of forward progress. If you can do that and stay calm, you should be able to stay calm in the race.

It also helps to swim at the race venue a few times before the big day.

If you don't have swim buddies, rent a sit on top kayak or similar and have a friend go out with you that way. Don't try to water wrestle the kayak tho

[Tri Girl]

I agree, the more open water swim practice the better. You'll be less panicked if you practice more.

On the funnier side, you could have your friends help you practice like this guy did...
I love this commercial!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk

[Pika]

Trigirl! That commercial really did make me laugh out loud!
The funny thing is I can really see my DH friends doing that to eachother!
Thanks for the laugh-
Gret- all I can say is practice really does help

[Gret1122]

Thanks for the advice and the commercial made me crack up. I am wanting to do a half iron in october in Austin, TX and think I will get a swim coach to help me out a bit and then just swim till I grow gills.
I think I also will have a training partner becuse one of my friends wants to do the aquabike that the tri has so she said we could train together. That will help a lot.

[KSH]

Thanks for the advice and the commercial made me crack up. I am wanting to do a half iron in october in Austin, TX and think I will get a swim coach to help me out a bit and then just swim till I grow gills.
I think I also will have a training partner becuse one of my friends wants to do the aquabike that the tri has so she said we could train together. That will help a lot.

Hey! I'm signed up for the Longhorn HIM October 7th in Austin!

[beetle]

Were you very close to other swimmers? You may have inadvertently been trying to swim at someone elses pace or stroke rate. I often find that I can't get my rhythm in a race and usually find it is because I am spending too much time concentrating on someone elses swiming and not mine. I really have to switch off from everyone else to swim comfortably in a race.

[leulamax]

Was the water much colder than what you are used to? Maybe it is just the cold causing your chest and muscles to tense up.