[keeffe7]

Hi guys i have read through all your comments on the hope of getting a bit of help for myself..... i too had big plans to get into triathlons this year but again the swimming was my problem so i booked lessons and was flying in the pool, i was doing 30 lenghts so decided it was a good time to sign up for an outdoor swim.. it was a 650m aguathon and i had not swam in the outdoors before.. when i got into the water my body froze and i thought to myself just stay in and get going, i could not swim at all.. i managed a bit of breast stroke but my head was out of the water.. i stayed in for about 6-8 minutes and came out... i was so upset after all the work i had put in but i still do not want to give up so any tips?????? thanks in advance

[BTH]

Originally Posted by keeffe7

Hi guys i have read through all your comments on the hope of getting a bit of help for myself..... i too had big plans to get into triathlons this year but again the swimming was my problem so i booked lessons and was flying in the pool, i was doing 30 lenghts so decided it was a good time to sign up for an outdoor swim.. it was a 650m aguathon and i had not swam in the outdoors before.. when i got into the water my body froze and i thought to myself just stay in and get going, i could not swim at all.. i managed a bit of breast stroke but my head was out of the water.. i stayed in for about 6-8 minutes and came out... i was so upset after all the work i had put in but i still do not want to give up so any tips?????? thanks in advance

Get back in the open water. Again again and again. Until you are comfortable. You can swim. you just need to be confident you can swim outside of a calm and shallow pool. The only way to do it is to spend as much time as possible in the open water.

[RedB]

Originally Posted by keeffe7

Hi guys i have read through all your comments on the hope of getting a bit of help for myself..... i too had big plans to get into triathlons this year but again the swimming was my problem so i booked lessons and was flying in the pool, i was doing 30 lenghts so decided it was a good time to sign up for an outdoor swim.. it was a 650m aguathon and i had not swam in the outdoors before.. when i got into the water my body froze and i thought to myself just stay in and get going, i could not swim at all.. i managed a bit of breast stroke but my head was out of the water.. i stayed in for about 6-8 minutes and came out... i was so upset after all the work i had put in but i still do not want to give up so any tips?????? thanks in advance

I found it a huge step doing swims and especially openwater ones. I now know in advance that I will panic initially and be very out of breath and 'freeze' but that it will pass after a few minutes so when that starts I just concentrate on trying to relax and get my breathing under control until it passes. It takes a few minutes and its as if there are very conflicting thoughts (stay / get out) during that period. I have found with open water that it really helps to splash the cold water on my face as I get in, make sure to get some water into the suit, get your head into the water and do a small warmup even with 1-2 bursts to try to get your body working. Do not give up, stick with it and it gets more manageable with practice. Knowing its coming can help deal with the feeling if you can manage your way out of it.

[keeffe7]

Thanks guys, massive help ))