Tips for open water swimming.

wayne0308

Hi,

I've never swam in the open water (in the sea specifically rather than lakes or rivers as they're relatively calm). I'm training for a triathlon and know that I'm going to have to give this a go soon to get used to it for any events that might be open water events.

How difficult is it? The main thing that is worrying me is breathing, especially if waves are hitting you perpendicular to your direction of travel in the water. Or if you get tired, what do you do?

Any advice on this or other tips you can give would be much appreciated.

secman

you say you are training for a Triathlon, chances are you will be wearing a wet suit, that and the fact that buoyancy in the sea is so much better than pools, you will find that you will tend to ride the waves. Try to get some practice in when the weather gets a bit warmer. Do you breathe bi lateral or just to one side. If you breathe to one side , get practicing on your bi lateral breathing, it will improve you overall. Handy to be able to switch to avoid say sun glare etc


Secman

spoonface

wayne0308 wrote: »

Hi,

I've never swam in the open water (in the sea specifically rather than lakes or rivers as they're relatively calm). I'm training for a triathlon and know that I'm going to have to give this a go soon to get used to it for any events that might be open water events.

How difficult is it? The main thing that is worrying me is breathing, especially if waves are hitting you perpendicular to your direction of travel in the water. Or if you get tired, what do you do?

Any advice on this or other tips you can give would be much appreciated.

I've swam a lot in the sea and can offer the following

-Re getting slapped by a wave as you breathe in, basically the trick is too keep your mouth shut for the most part and be aware of what's going on as you're about to breathe in. You keep your mouth only a little open so you can shut it if water slaps you. That said more than a few times I've ended up with a throat full of seawater so you have to take care.
-If you get tired you can always turn on your back, keep air in your lungs and move minimally to rest (or kick slightly to buoy yourself up).
-If you're worried about getting tired (or just as good practice), you can swim parellel to the coastline but not far from shore at all. That way if it comes to it you have an easy exit option.
-Swim with a buddy and then you're both there for each other just in case. It also helps psychologically - I have been far out in the sea before and after meeting a seal quite scared on the way back.
-Wear a thick rubber hat or even 2 or 3 depending on time of year - they save heat loss and make a big difference to how long you'll be comfortable in the water
-Try going somewhere you'll find likeminded people who'll give you tips & encouragement and you can swim with e.g. the forty foot in Dublin
-Be aware of yourself in the water i.e. are you getting cold or tired - it's important to get out and/or move fast if you feel quite cold.

But basically go for it, it's much more fun than endless pool laps!

wayne0308

secman wrote: »

you say you are training for a Triathlon, chances are you will be wearing a wet suit, that and the fact that buoyancy in the sea is so much better than pools, you will find that you will tend to ride the waves. Try to get some practice in when the weather gets a bit warmer. Do you breathe bi lateral or just to one side. If you breathe to one side , get practicing on your bi lateral breathing, it will improve you overall. Handy to be able to switch to avoid say sun glare etc


Secman

Thanks for the reply secman, I tend to breathe to my left most of the time. I find it hard to breathe on my right hand side as I end up with a bit of back pain between my shoulder blades, this is due to the fact that I'm not as flexible on that side and tend to compensate by trying to lift my head out of the water. I'm practicing to do this but only a little bit each week for now until I can get my form correct.

I might get a lend of a wetsuit and give it a go soon.

spoonface wrote: »

I've swam a lot in the sea and can offer the following

-Re getting slapped by a wave as you breathe in, basically the trick is too keep your mouth shut for the most part and be aware of what's going on as you're about to breathe in. You keep your mouth only a little open so you can shut it if water slaps you. That said more than a few times I've ended up with a throat full of seawater so you have to take care.
-If you get tired you can always turn on your back, keep air in your lungs and move minimally to rest (or kick slightly to buoy yourself up).
-If you're worried about getting tired (or just as good practice), you can swim parellel to the coastline but not far from shore at all. That way if it comes to it you have an easy exit option.
-Swim with a buddy and then you're both there for each other just in case. It also helps psychologically - I have been far out in the sea before and after meeting a seal quite scared on the way back.
-Wear a thick rubber hat or even 2 or 3 depending on time of year - they save heat loss and make a big difference to how long you'll be comfortable in the water
-Try going somewhere you'll find likeminded people who'll give you tips & encouragement and you can swim with e.g. the forty foot in Dublin
-Be aware of yourself in the water i.e. are you getting cold or tired - it's important to get out and/or move fast if you feel quite cold.

But basically go for it, it's much more fun than endless pool laps!

My parents live very close to the beach, I tend to head there fairly often so I think that will be the handiest for me. Thanks for the tips. I think the phychological problems will be the main thing to overcome, might see if theres a club down there.

secman

Wayne0308,

I detect from previous posts that you may live in north dublin, there is a very good master swimming club in north Dublin called Easter Bay, that do a lot of sea swim training . I think they are based in pool in Trinity sports centre in Donaghmede. They tend to train between Portmarnock and Malahide at a spot named Low Rock, possible on Sunday mornings ( even at this time of year)
Definitely get yourself a wet suit to test out, as swimming in a wet suit is very different, you need to get used to the tightness and arms not feeling as free in them.

Good luck

Secman

mad m

Look up often, as you will go off course very easily....If you get a mouth full of water, dont panic spit it back out....Because you've never swam in open water before I would advise to do before race. This will give you a sense of whats to come, I mean once you start swimming you can't just stand up like in a pool...


Watchout for Jellyfish, but (if) you hit a few, keep going.....

del88

Stay away from sharks....(sorry couldn't resist)

wayne0308

secman wrote: »

Wayne0308,

I detect from previous posts that you may live in north dublin, there is a very good master swimming club in north Dublin called Easter Bay, that do a lot of sea swim training . I think they are based in pool in Trinity sports centre in Donaghmede. They tend to train between Portmarnock and Malahide at a spot named Low Rock, possible on Sunday mornings ( even at this time of year)
Definitely get yourself a wet suit to test out, as swimming in a wet suit is very different, you need to get used to the tightness and arms not feeling as free in them.

Good luck

Secman

Yeah I live not far from DCU, but I don't think it would be difficult to get out to this since I wont be doing much on a Sunday anyway. It'll be interesting to see how much buoyancy the suit adds to your body.

sNarah

Hijacking this thread, adding a similar question to the open water swimming: are the currents strong/trecherous here in Ireland? i've swum in relativly calm water abroad and also in stronger currents and they tend to freak me out. Let's call it a healthy fear of the sea

secman

The places that are usually used by the sea swimmers and the clubs for the Summer races around the Leinster coast are pretty ok as far as currents go. That would be from Howth down to Wicklow Town.

I also swim down in Cahore and its pretty safe there too.

Secman

spoonface

sNarah wrote: »

Hijacking this thread, adding a similar question to the open water swimming: are the currents strong/trecherous here in Ireland? i've swum in relativly calm water abroad and also in stronger currents and they tend to freak me out. Let's call it a healthy fear of the sea

How long is a piece of string? It's important to know local conditions. For example Strandhill in Sligo has a riptide and undertow, meaning dodgy for swimming ; Forty Foot in Dublin can be fast moving if swimming around the headland, depending on the stage of the tide. Basically you need to know what you're getting into if you're going in for the first time.

brian_bugle

I would tend to have the same fear of open water! And sea swimming just ain't my thing, but this year I'm going to give it a try on my hols in Lanzarote to sea (sic) if I can try and get my body used to it, but more importantly, my mind over it!! I have no problem flying up and down a nice heated pool (that I can stand up in!!) but turn to jelly (not jellyfish!!) when it comes to open water!!