I’ve been lurking on this forum, with an occasional post, for a while. Been trying to get myself to the point where I’m confident I can complete a sprint triathlon.
Well, I’m still not so confident but I went ahead and registered for the next sprint triathlon at Lake Louisa.
My big worry is the swim. My swimming sucks. Previous posts have referred to people that swim poorly and do it well. Well, I swim poorly and I don’t even do it well. I’m probably the worst swimmer to post on this forum since Martha Quinn stopped hosting MTV.
I got a book to try help me out. But it was just too much information and I think I ended up getting worse after reading it.
Now I’ve decided I’m just going to suck it up and gut out the swim even if I have to breast stroke the whole dang way.
I am far from being the exalted ones around here, but I have a similar background (swimming challenged for my first few tris) and I’ll offer you two suggestions.
position yourself to the back and side at the start so you don’t get smacked/swum over/etc. this sucks.
swim at what feels like an easy effort. with the adrenaline of a race, a mass swim start, and your first tri, you’ll be going plenty hard, even if it feels easy. if the swim is a big challenge you want to be extra careful not to blow your race right there at the beginning.
Beg, borrow, or steal a wetsuit. These things are a huge confidence booster. I would think nothing else would make you feel more confident on the swim than a wetsuit. I was joking about the steal part.
It just takes experience I guess. It would be strange if you were NOT a little nervous before your first race. When it comes to the swimming, make sure you have a few open water swims before actual race day. And then during the race, just stay calm, try to get a clear spot on the side and KEEP GOING. Remember that it’s going to be a very different experience to be surrounded by hundrends of flailing arms and legs in probably murky water so keep your wits about you. Maybe try a local masters program or hire a swim coach to help with technique too.
That’s easy. Go swim.
Get in a pool everyday for the next week (or however long it is til your triathlon.)
You don’t have to swim fast or far, just be in the pool and swim.
I also highly recommend floating. (It sure beats sinking), try and float as still as you can on your stomach for as long as you can. When you need a breath, slowly roll over and take it. This teaches you a lot about how water works. (And will make you more comfortable in it.)
position yourself to the back and side at the start so you don’t get smacked/swum over/etc. this sucks.
My wife could have used this advice over the weekend. She just did her first tri and within the first minute of the swim she got kicked in the sternum and had the wind knocked out of her. Pretty much messed her up for the entire swim. So I’m like, great, one more thing I have to worry about
Beg, borrow, or steal a wetsuit. These things are a huge confidence booster. I would think nothing else would make you feel more confident on the swim than a wetsuit. I was joking about the steal part.
I have a shorty wetsuit that I wear in the winter when I’m surf kayaking, but I think it might be a bit much for a lake swim in central florida.
don’t lock yourself up over the swim. alternating strokes think smooth, think fast, think downhill, think razor edge. 5 minutes or so and your flying out on the bike.
Fellow lurker here. I want to come down for a couple of the Lake Louisa races as they sound like fun and they’re cheap! I’ll be gone this week for the first one, unfortunately. I’m signed up to do the sprint series in Clermont this summer as my first races, as a warmup for the Hammerhead in August.
I started swimming in February and couldn’t do 50 yards, I know how you feel. Get out and practice in some open water (get a friend with a kayak or some other help, don’t go alone) and it will go a long way to relieve your anxiety. Good luck!
Soylent Green - that is one of my favorite movies - way before it’s time in content and message. I love the scene where Heston is sitting down eating “real food” for dinner!
Anyway - No worries on the swim at Lake Louisa - last race we had about 60% of the field as first timers - and about 60% of the field was women!
You can walk almost 1/2 the swim - the water will be warm - just stay to the back of the pack and out of the fast swimmers way. (Elite athletes go in first so you do not have to worry about them swimming over you)
We might have a special guess elite athlete next Thursday - 5 time Ironman Champion - Natasha Badman might be at the race! See you then. Z
Welcome to the healthy drug of tri.