I did my first Olympic distance tri in 23 years (I’m 46) this weekend and had to abandon the swim after less than 1/4 mile because I couldn’t breath. My season’s goal is a half ironman (Timberman) in late August and I need to figure out what happened in the swim, and what to do about it.
Here’s what happened: shortly into the swim I started to feel like there was a weight on my chest, and like I couldn’t get a full breath. I adjusted my stroke from freestyle to sidestroke to save energy. But it didn’t stop and I began to panic. Then abandoned. When I got out of the water I was wheezing some. I went on to complete the bike and run strongly and without any issues.
Here’s the backdrop: I was well-trained in all events and had swam a full mile w/o a problem just a week prior to the race. However, by race day I had only trained in a pool, never in open water; and this was my first time in a wetsuit.
Finally, I have a history of minor bronchial problems, but am otherwise in very good physical condition.
So what’s going on here? Why would I have no problem swimming a mile in a pool but a major problem in open water? Is it just a training issue: that is, I need to get out there and swim in the open water and it’ll come? Do I have an asthmatic condition specific to water in some way? Or is it psychological?
Swimming in open water for some folks is way different than a pool. Swimming in open water with folks touching
you is way different.
I know I used to panic attack in the water like you discribed when I went out too fast, and was not trained correctly
in swimming. But after doing masters for 9 months, I have had NO issues with the swim during my first 9 or so races
this season!. Now, getting out with the FOP’s and not getting beat up has helped A LOT!!
Eric,
Pool & Open Water swimming are too different thing especially when you throw into the mix a wetsuit.
You need to feel comfortable in a wetsuit as it is mostly a question of adaptation from a breathing perspective (this is most likely why you felt that weight on your chest).
In addition, Open Water can be a little bit intimidating at first since you cannot see a thing and your senses (especially visual sens) are completely messed up suddenly.
I went through that at my first Tri with a wetsuit and it took me 10 minutes to calm down and then complete the swim (+ add to that all the other competitors)…
Eric: I have been doing a couple of OLY a year for the last 8 years and come from a solid swimming background. That said, last year I had a similar feeling in an early season race. I did not abandon but was reduced to doing breast stroke for a while trying to catch my breath. Through trial and error, I’ve figured out what works for me:
For two weeks before a race I swim frequently - every other day at least - but for short distance - typically 1/2 mile. Easy and working on stroke dynamics.
I try to get in at least one open water swim shortly before every race.
I soak my wet suit a week before a race in the tub and then let it dry. Believe it or not, they really dry out in the off season and can be very constricting.
I swim part of the course the night before the race, in my wet suit.
I know that my HR spikes early in every swim and then settles. So I ALWAYS warm up with a swim before the race starts. Typically 15 minutes before my start. Not fast but steady for 200 to 400 meters. Hard enough to get my HR up and then I let it settle.
Although I am a pretty god swimmer, I let the crazy guys go. I see most of them later in the swim.
How cold was the water? Sometimes the shock of the cold water will constrict breathing. Then you keep pushing the pace and send yourself into an oxygen deficit. The breathlessness can then cause you to panic a little and possibly hyperventilate. Then it’s all over. If the water is cold I like to get in a few minutes before the start and acclimate.
If it’s panic attack only I think a little more open water swimming will help you get over the anxiety of a tri start. Good luck and happy swimming.
I really shouldn’t be giving advice to the enemy (My AG and my first half will be Timberman) - but hey.
Anyhow, as others have stated, open water vs pool is a totally different ball game. Wetsuit vs non is also a totally different ballgame.
You had a pretty typical panic attack - I did exactly the same in my first, so no shame - but it does take a bit of mental work to get over it. Wetsuits can vary in degrees of restrictiveness, and you really do need to get used to the feel. It also helps to realize there is no way you are going to sink in one of those things. So get out into some open water and just play around in it for a couple of times. Don’t try any long swims at first - just short distances til you feel comfortable with your stroke and your sighting.
You should also consdier open water swims without the suit, just to build confidence in your open water skills.
Finally, if you do have mild asthma, stress is a great tigger.
Most of this is psycological, in response to the physical feeling different from what you are used to. you will get through this, and you have bags of time before Timberman to get this sorted out.
Prior to yesterday, I have never had an issue, but during the Rockman I had a panic attack…it was bizarre. The swim start was chaotic…I went waaaay too hard and was really flailing. And breathing waay too fast. I started to hyperventilate, but since I’ve never done that before either, I had no idea what was happening. All I knew was that I was gasping very quickly but couldn’t breathe, and actually felt like I was going to drown. I breast stroked to the turnaround trampoline which thank goodness had some cool handles, and I grabbed one to settle down. I thought I was going to have to swim to shore and then bail on the race, but then I glanced at my HRM and saw 165! That’s when it dawned on my that I was hyperventilating. I let let myself relax, and just hung on while I caught my breath. The panic ceased, and after a couple minutes I went on my merry way, careful to just stroke nice and easy.
So, with your fitness, my guess is that you might have been hyperventilating…that horrible feeling that even though you are breathing, you aren’t getting any air. Grab something and chill out until the feeling goes away. As long as no one helps you make forward progress, you can stay in the race. Once it starts, it seemed like for me even treading water didn’t help…I had to hold on to something and just let my body relax.
I have been exactly where you were - it’s not fun. I haven’t totally gotten over it, but everything posted here is solid advice. I was recently swimming a short, but very cold, first race of the season and had to stop and get my HR/Breathing under control. For me, a lot of it has to do with nerves - as I’m usually fine if I’m doing open water swim as a workout with a few other people out there - mass starts really freak me out.
Good luck, and when all else fails - get to the nearest buoy, diver, rope, whatever and get that breathing back under control. Once all the really fast guys have gone past, and there’s some room, get back out there and take it nice and easy!
haven’t had time to read every response, but the wetsuit takes some adjusting to. finally, i’m starting to get adjusted to mine, and up to this point have been pretty stubborn about wearing one because it is so different than swimming without one.
so, i wouldn’t freak out that you had a let down in your swim with first attempt at a wetsuit. just get yourself to some open water wetsuit swims from this point forward; during a time there is a lifeguard or others around.
FWIW the first time i wore mine was a scary experience; not from weak swimming skills (given former competitive swimmer), but from the compression on the chest. it is a very very different feeeling that takes adjustment.
In addition to all the free advise given I’ll add my 2 cents…The right preparation is key and chances are you won’t panic if you develop the right pacing skill. Practice some swim sets without a clock focusing on pace by feel. Swimming 150’s at slow, intermediate, hard and max pace. This way you’ll be able to start at the right speed and progress through your speed gears to the finish.