Hey,
So some bkgnd: in triathlon for 5 years with mostly lake swims in warm water. Very confident swimmer and typically right behind the FOPers. Mostly sprints. Never had need to use a wetsuit.
So this past weekend I bumped it up for a local Sprint with an ocean swim (NJ), my first salt water experience. Typical water temps expected in upper-60s to low-70s. So I bought a sleeveless wetsuit. Another first.
I took the wetsuit for a swim at a local OWS a week before the race. Probably swam about 750m in the lake that first trial. No issues. Felt fine. Didn't really notice any breathing probs.
Fast forward to Sunday's tri with the ocean swim. No probs donning the wetsuit and gearing up for swim. At the gun, hit the water and started swimming. First 50m I basically inhaled a swell. Ok, I half expected that. But after that my breathing became tough. Couldn't get into a breathing rhythm and felt like I had a boa constrictor around my chest. The sweet thought of raising my hand did cross my mind, but told myself to just get to the first buoy. I made it but at that point my breathing was in panic mode and all I wanted to do was take off that wetsuit. Not wanting penalty for abandoning equipment, I chugged on doing more breast than free but I survived it and completed the race.
So I have NEVER had breathing issues nor have I had any panic issues during a swim before. So what went wrong?. Do I just need more practice in the wetsuit?. Will more practice on the wetsuit help with that boa constrictor feeling?
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It's not about what you've done, it's about what you're doing!
@trecca17
So some bkgnd: in triathlon for 5 years with mostly lake swims in warm water. Very confident swimmer and typically right behind the FOPers. Mostly sprints. Never had need to use a wetsuit.
So this past weekend I bumped it up for a local Sprint with an ocean swim (NJ), my first salt water experience. Typical water temps expected in upper-60s to low-70s. So I bought a sleeveless wetsuit. Another first.
I took the wetsuit for a swim at a local OWS a week before the race. Probably swam about 750m in the lake that first trial. No issues. Felt fine. Didn't really notice any breathing probs.
Fast forward to Sunday's tri with the ocean swim. No probs donning the wetsuit and gearing up for swim. At the gun, hit the water and started swimming. First 50m I basically inhaled a swell. Ok, I half expected that. But after that my breathing became tough. Couldn't get into a breathing rhythm and felt like I had a boa constrictor around my chest. The sweet thought of raising my hand did cross my mind, but told myself to just get to the first buoy. I made it but at that point my breathing was in panic mode and all I wanted to do was take off that wetsuit. Not wanting penalty for abandoning equipment, I chugged on doing more breast than free but I survived it and completed the race.
So I have NEVER had breathing issues nor have I had any panic issues during a swim before. So what went wrong?. Do I just need more practice in the wetsuit?. Will more practice on the wetsuit help with that boa constrictor feeling?
---------------
It's not about what you've done, it's about what you're doing!
@trecca17