Whenever I race I spend the next day with a horrible runny nose. It looks like a really bad cold but it is definitely from the swim. I have been doing triathlons for years so I know it is coming. I do the same races every year so it is all lake swims. Although I am an experienced triathlete I am a horrible swimmer and have terrible form (that is a separate issue). I am guessing my terrible form leads to water going into places it shouldn’t. Does anyone else experience this and have any ideas for helping it? Would a nose plug help? I know some people might suggest fixing my form…I would if I could but I think I am untrainable in that area.
I have found the issue is the allergens in lakes. I opt to use Flonase as soon as I can.
Same here. After practice swims in open water I always do a nasal flush with saline solution. Available from most pharmacies - common brand is ‘NeilMed’, which works well. Solves about 90% of my post-swim running nose issue.
I use a nose clip when I swim. It lost the cool factor but I am almost 50 and dont care.
Do you use ear plugs? My head used to fill literally with water, it would come pouring out of my nose like a stream when getting changed and or drip during the day. Ear plugs solved all this.
there are certain bodies of water that will have allergens/algae that don’t agree with us. you mention that you do the same races each year, another mentions they swim in the same body of water, so likely it’s those lakes in particular.
madisonman points out flonaise (does it work?) , next poster a saline flush. i use nose clips, cool factor be damned! most think we’re all a little dorky anyway, so who cares 
Nose plug for OWS. Nasal wash for the pool. It is the only thing that works for me. Once I started doing this sinus infections and breathing problems post swim vanished.
For those that use the nose plug…do you just breathe out your mouth?
For those that use the nose plug…do you just breathe out your mouth?
yes, and it’s not a big deal to get used to.
Same here. After practice swims in open water I always do a nasal flush with saline solution. Available from most pharmacies - common brand is ‘NeilMed’, which works well. Solves about 90% of my post-swim running nose issue.
Try this and it works like a charm. Not just after the swim. I also do this after I run when pollen is high. You don’t want to use a nose plug because it will throw off your rhythm. I’ve tried already and if you are not used to it, you will hate it.
Nose plugs will work like a charm for the problem you are having. They will not change your swim stroke. They will not mess up your rhythm. You can actually still exhale thru your nose with nose plugs. So many uninformed posts here.
Whenever I race I spend the next day with a horrible runny nose. It looks like a really bad cold but it is definitely from the swim. I have been doing triathlons for years so I know it is coming. I do the same races every year so it is all lake swims. Although I am an experienced triathlete I am a horrible swimmer and have terrible form (that is a separate issue). I am guessing my terrible form leads to water going into places it shouldn’t. Does anyone else experience this and have any ideas for helping it? Would a nose plug help? I know some people might suggest fixing my form…I would if I could but I think I am untrainable in that area.
I have the same issue with allergies after OWS. I tried nose plugs and just couldn’t do it. Flonase didn’t do much for me. But, a combination of other OTC allergy med’s have worked well this year. I guess you gotta keep trying until you find something that works.
I’ll bet it’s not allergens. Just a sinus cavity with water in it. Happens to me every time. If i don’t do something about it (like in a race), it will trickle out the rest of the day. Fortunately the solution is simple after a training swim: just lean over like i’m trying to touch my toes. Alternately blow each nostril like i’m trying to blow a snot rocket. First time my buddy saw this he was amazed how much water came out.
I had this issue for years from waterskiing. After I stopped that it went away. Then came back after starting triathlon. I also leaned towards it being water lodged in my sinuses somewhere. But it doesn’t happen from ocean swims. After fresh water swims I am still congested after clearing my sinuses. My ENT is a triathlete and his recommendation was Nasonex. It was Rx at the time but I think it is now available OTC.