FEELING RACE READY
Tools are one way to get race ready, developing the mindset to deal with open water swimming conditions is another. As Forest Gump's mum pointed out (nothing beats mums for solid advice) “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” and the water will always keep you guessing.
Open water swimming is a distant relative of pool swimming - like a cheeky second cousin. Open water is older, almost always cloudy with chop or waves and there are no sides, ends or lines to keep things tidy. Try to hit a rhythm similar to your training pace and get your reach going. Being able to stretch out and hit a familiar tempo is the point at which many experienced triathletes will say they feel like they settled into the race. If it doesn’t come, stay calm and focus on breathing. Aim for consistent, deep breaths in and out. If your breathing is relaxed, your body and mind will follow.
If you find ocean swimming daunting, check out our blog post on 10 tips for overcoming open water anxiety.
It’s easy to let swimming technique slide when battling race nerves, conditions and the chaos of the pack. Try to block that out and focus on your form, breathing and tempo. Keep your head down. You will need to pop up for sighting but don’t be afraid to put your face in the water and swim. It is the only way to have good swim posture and generate speed.
