Mental aspect of OWS

The best way to get "comfortable" with the washing machine start is to do more races and not wait until everyone passes.  "Face your fear" is such a dumb sounding cliche but unfortunately it's quite true.

Mental aspect?  Perhaps you should think of the fact that it is incredibly difficult to drown.  Seriously.  If you inhale water into your lungs, you will not drown.  If you get smacked in the face/goggles, you will not drown.  If you get kicked in the head, you will not drown.

When you get more experience in the middle of the "washing machine" (aka face your fear) and then get bumped and nudged (aka you will not drown) you will become much better in the water.

Bottom line is that most people, believe it or not, feel the same way about getting bumped in the middle of the "washing machine" and if you think of that while swimming in a race and also take notice of when you bump and nudge others that they get out of your way, your confidence will sky rocket.  Besides, almost everyone is anxious or nervous before the start of the swim.  Hell, I've been racing for years and am anxious/nervous before swim starts but I still am able to mix it up with everyone regardless.

Remember that thing our mom's use to tell us about spiders and insects and snakes?  "They are more afraid of you than you are of them."  Well, this is quite true in the water of a race and a great thing to mentally focus on to raise your confidence.

Good luck and don't worry about drowning....it's extremely difficult.

Edited by Steve- 2005-09-24 6:21 AM

I know what you mean. At my last two tri's I have totally panicked during the swim. I couldn't let everyone go ahead because the waves of people just kept on coming! I told myself not to stop but I did, and seeing alll the people everywhere made it worse.

I'm hoping that as I become a more confident swimmer, period, that I'll feel better swimming in a crowd.

Thanks for all the advice.

I went to our local pond to get one more ows practice in this afternoon and you know what I kept stopping. First I was swimming even with the shore and when I would swim into a shadow and the water would change from green water to black water and I would look up wondering if I was way off course.

I did better the longer I swam but not terrific. I wondered if doing pools swimming I do open turns every 25 yds so that is my rythmn...go 25 stop turn go 25 yds...so I'm not really used to swimming 500 yds without stopping. I think doing an open turn every 25 yds lets me catch my breath better than straight freestyle...if that makes sense. Or it is a mental issue. I don't think I'm afraid of drowning. I stop when noone is around too.

I agree I need to be more competitive and my best swim on the year was a all women start with fast men after us...I drafted as the fast guys went by me. Tomorrow it looks like it will be all women in my wave...will go to the middle on the left so I can watch everyone else as I swim.

Another key is to stay positive. Last race I was with mostly men...and I got mad at myself for piddling along and having a breaststroking guy keep up with me. Negative thoughts beget negative thoughts....need to keep positive and do the best I can do.

Thanks!

That's great advice. Next season, I'm not gonna be a tourist, I'm gonna be a racer!

I love the idea that I was not our tourist but a racer and kept saying that over and over last night and this morning.

I thought I'd report in on how it went. I started with Isis54, Joanne 1st in her AG, in the last wave. As we waited to swim the waves continued to get larger and larger...lovely. Talking with her before the start really helped me stay calm and I didn't get the thoughts like normal...why am I doing this...is this fun? It was fun.

I started in the middle back on the left....Swim was a sort of a diamond shape. But just like all races within 50 yds everyone was ahead of me. It was wavy and I was trying to make sure I was going straight. I started swimming and counting strokes...get to 30 stroke cycles and I can take a little break at breast stroke...okay I did that feeling okay..not feeling bad I'm last. I kept counting and made it to the first bouy. Now swimming into the waves...two people are ahead of me...one from my wave and one from the previous...try to keep counting and going towards them. Was making about 60 strokes before a pause....make it around final bouy ...last bouy made a straight line sort of. This is the longest way...keep on counting...waves carrying me in. I made it counting up to 100 stroke cycles or 200 strokes before a pause. I feel in the groove...doing okay...feeling okay I've lost the other two, but I'm swimming, feeling calm and not stopping. I was gliding and riding the waves and I am actually having fun!! I finished feeling good kept my HR in the 140's and felt very positve about my swim. Sure I was last out of the water, but I would guess not the slowiest swimmer. I don't care if I was. I improved and that is what is important...I'm competing against me not all the other racers.

I wasn't a tourist...not sure I was a racer, but I did well for me. The ocean swimming demon is gone....great way to end the season.