[email protected] wrote in news:1156726749.660122.140350
@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:
>
> have an upcoming inaugural triathlon and my test-swim yesterday
> featured strong winds and 1-2' waves...it was a real struggle and i'm
> looking for tips to help out...how to time breathing, which way to
> breathe, whatever else might help.
>
> TIA
> walter
>
I really beleive that your mindset going into the swim is almost as
important as your conditioning/training. You are no longer in the
carefully controlled conditions of the pool, so it's important to expect
the unexpected. Sometimes you'll roll your head to the side for air, and
there won't be any. Sometimes, you'll reach above the surface to recover
a stroke, and instead your arm will run into a wave. If you freak out and
stop to get your bearings, that's fine. But if you just take an extra
stroke and try again on the other side without any big loss in momentum,
that's even better.
When something unexpected happens, you'll eventually get to the point
where you think, "Hmm, that was interesting!" instead of "Oh god, I'm in
trouble!". That simple change in mindset is good for a full minute over
1500 yards of open water swimming, maybe more. The only way to get there
is by exposing yourself to open water more frequently. DO NOT SWIM ALONE!
Good luck,
Tom