Just got back from the Tahoe Xterra and the swim just about killed me. The wind, waves, and chop steadily picked up after the start and it got brutal out there.
I sort of freaked for a bit on the first lap because I was sucking down water on just about every breath. I managed to get it under control eventually (meaning I didn’t feel like I was about to drown), but I had to resort to a lot of breast stroking. It took me 46 minutes to finish the 1500m swim. My best time is 27 minutes for that distance.
What can I do to get better at these conditions? I don’t really have many opportunities to swim in rough open water (I live in Boulder, CO).
From my times you can tell I’m not a good swimmer to begin with, but I know that’s not the whole problem. My wife can normally swim a 21-22 minute 1500m in open water and it took her about 27 minutes yesterday at Tahoe. Note that my wife doesn’t have much experience swimming in rough open water, either.
The pros, on the other hand, turned in times that were pretty much the same as last year’s times, when (I believe) conditions were much better. How do they do it?
On the mental side- get out in the ocean or big lake any time you’re near one, even if you’re just splashing in the surf. Familiarity will build mental comfort in the medium in the long run.
Physical stuff-
Even if you don’t have access to rough water on a regular basis, you can still work on tweaking your stroke for rough water purposes in the water. Shortening your stroke generally helps out some- glide kills when you’re swimming into rough water, and increasing cadence/decreasing distance per stroke works out kind of like shifting gears so you can spin your bike up the hill.
I’ve found a combination of a more heads up freestyle and strong core muscles helps keep me from feeling I’m getting knocked around so much in the water. Seems much more stable.
The best article about open water adaptation I’ve found is here:
"In many ways, swimming in open water requires a variety of skills that can be very different from swimming in a pool. In fact, a given swimmer needs to adapt a range of skills to different race conditions. Swimmers even need to modify their swimming technique within a race such as when negotiating a triangular shaped course where the wind and swell may be in the direction of swimmers in one leg, but against and/or to different sides in the others segments. Thus, swimmers need a technique that is not only adapted generically to open water swimming but also need to be skilled at adapting that technique to suit the conditions. This is very different from the case of pool swimmers who refine their techniques to be very consistent because the environment they race in is standardised. "
I the military we got comfortable with the water by being in the water. Doug Stern teaches people to be comfortable in the water by illustrating to them that the water won’t hurt them and that they won’t be pulled under.
The bulk of it is familiarity I think. I would suggest that what you just accomplished will go a long way toward making you more comfortable in the water. Well done- that was not easy!
damn man I feel you. That swim sucked. We got in Sat afternoon about 3pm when it was all white water and 2 foot swells. That was mayhem. Race day didn’t look all that bad but the combination of mid 50 degree water and that crazy unpredictable chop just freaked me out. Then they had the starting gun confusion. I got maybe 30m in and pulled up just panicked. I was near the front so I’m thinking, SHIT, I’m going get run the hell over by everyone behind me as I bob here. I look back and it’s this crazy washing machine of people, some swimming, some bobbing like me, pretty much noone going in a straight line and noone runs in to me! Contemplated throwing in the towel multiple times and had to stop every 10 strokes or so to calm down. Got really sick on the 150m portion parallel to shore and coming back in did you feel how COLD it was right near the shore??? I heard reports it was down at 50degrees at the shore… Ran the beach and just stood there at the waters edge for at least a minute NOT wanting to get back in. Well I finally did and halfway through the second lap I sorta pulled it together and started making up ground. Ended up splitting 30:50 although that included my dizzy falling over attempt at taking my wetsuit off on the beach before running up to T1, that took a while. I came up there hoping to go 20min and change on a glass smooth lake like it was 2 years ago. Surprise surprise;) I think it was all about staying calm which I did not do well at all. The two people I was staying with who came out 3rd and 4th from the water (Barb and a friend of mine Chad) said they got tossed around a lot and were just in panic control mode most of the way. My friend Chad was breathing every stroke but he has a funky rhythm which worked pretty well in the conditions. At least there aren’t many swims like that out there…
Choppy conditions are tough. I worked as a lifeguard for 7 years and you do get used to it. One of the things I found is to roll a little farther over (my roll is poor so it probably was the only time I really had good motion) and to almost look up at my elbow on the recovery when I breath. I know it could slow you down, but not as much as taking in water and having to stop to cough or puke. Also, if the mental aspect is unnerving, one of the best things you could do is to try and find a local water polo team. You make it through a game or practice, nothing will be scary about triathlon swimming again.
Listen to FLA Jill. She has it nailed; you switch to low gear, high cadence and climb over the chop.
I swim in Tahoe every time we go up (OK except during ski season); sometimes it’s like a bucking bronco out there. At least the water doesn’t taste as bad as SF Bay.
Being able to choose a breathing side helps too. I actually kind of dig it as long as I don’t start to go hypothermic. Fifty degree water will pretty much do me in in about 30 minutes if I don’t have a full suit and a thermal cap on.
I was lucky enough to swim in the Xterra Race on Saturday when the lake was huge. Plenty of practice in the Pacific when the wind was up gave me the ability to remain calm, which as others have pointed out is the key. If all you have is a lake to practice swimming, then go out there the next time the wind is really up and just stay in ther until you begin to feel more comfortable. Just a matter of time, I always place considerably higher when the surf is up. Best was at USTS Championships in Oceanside when the surf was about 10 feet. Just another skill we need to practice for when we inevitably get hit with bad conditions.
The two people I was staying with who came out 3rd and 4th from the water (Barb and a friend of mine Chad) said they got tossed around a lot and were just in panic control mode most of the way.
Wow, Barb Lindquist in panic control mode on the swim? Ok, I guess I don’t feel so bad. I was in panic mode, too, but for about 26 minutes longer. Oops, wait…she was in panic control mode, and I was just in panic mode.
Those that didn’t do this “infamous swim” are lucky. Winds of 30mph. Swells 4-5ft. Dead carp floating everywhere. Bouys dissappearing. Most people swimming in complete opposite directions and coming to shore 1/2 mile from the swim exit. It was the worse swim EVER in triathlon record and unfortunatley a life was lost in it
I did IM Utah and could bilateral and that didn’t help. I ended up swimming on my back, even got my picture in the local newspaper as an unidentified swimmer with a wave about to bury me. That was the worst swim of my life and I’ve done 18 IM races including the year of the big swells in Hawaii!! It was like a washing machine and you could never get a rhythm going. If you survived that one, you can handle just about anything.
Utah was something else, from what I read. I also heard that they had to change to swim location from calmer water to the site used. I can’t remember the reason.
The first year they had the swim in Lake Provo I believe was the name. At any rate…we were having lunch a few days before in this cafe when the waitress asked why were in town. Told her for the race and she said, “I hope they don’t have it in the lake…cuz if the winds get to it…it becomes dangerous” Apparently the name of the lake for locals was “Killer Lake” as many people have died in it cuz a little wind creates big swells and people in Utah are not good swimmers. The day of the race it was so dame windy…couldnt hear the cannon go off, but looked at my watch and started swimming as others kinda bobbed around and swim in a variety of directions…COMPLETE CHAOS!!! There was a lifeguard that I swam by that was overturned on his kayak holding on for dear life and said the race had been cancelled and to swim back towards the sunrise and you could only see the shore when you would be on the peak of the swells
I kind of like swimming in rough water. As a strong swimmer it helps me to get a bigger lead on the folks who usually catch me on the run.
For me the trick is riding the waves. I have found that timing my breathing to when I am at the either the top or the bottom of the wave makes it easier to find my rythim.
This past summer I did a local series of aquathons. I was either 1st or 2nd out of the water in all of the races. Of course, being a slow runner, I got passed by all of the “skinny runners.” But the time I did the best was the night were the water was really choppy and difficult. Even though I was maybe 1 min slower, those behind me were quite a bit slower. That night only one guy passed me on the run. I have never gotten 2nd in any race before so it felt good. Needless to say, in the other races, more of the speedy runners passed me.
I agree with JB…I love to show up to a race and see the fear in peoples eyes when the water is rough and the waves are big. Better for me. Growing up in so cal and being a surfer has paid off.
I kind of like swimming in rough water. As a strong swimmer it helps me to get a bigger lead on the folks who usually catch me on the run.
For me the trick is riding the waves. I have found that timing my breathing to when I am at the either the top or the bottom of the wave makes it easier to find my rythm.
One of the problems with the Tahoe swim on Sunday was that the waves were coming at chaotic intervals. You’d try to time your breathing with the waves and then one would come smack you right as you’re trying to catch a breath. Unfortunately there was no real rhythm to be had.
You’re lucky you’re a strong swimmer and can deal with these conditions!
