Open Water Swim Practice before Metroplex Sprint

I could possibly do it next Wednesday. But I would need it to be closer to 6:00. If I leave work at 5:00 I might make it in time.

I really prefer Wednesday also since it is my normal swim day.  I don't think we started yesterday until close to 6:00 anyways.  Let see who else want to come and we can play it by ear.  I am hoping we can get a few more people so that there so we have practice with the start.  I have only done 1 start and it was disasterous.  I am pretty confident is my swimming after the start.

Sounds good.

So, what was disasterous with the start exactly?

My worst start... was just because we were all crammed together. I basically swam with my head up until I got out of the pack.

Otherwise, I have never had an issue with OW starts.

Maybe it was just that race? If you did PlayTri... that OWS was miserable. The Canels are so narrow... it was hard to get away from the pack. In a lake, it's totally different.

In a lake, you can seat yourself to the outside and if you stay away from the boyous you should be fine.

I did the fit2train swim at grapevine and when he said go I started hyperventallating and could not put my face in the water for more than 3 strokes.  It took my 25 minutes to swim 800 meters and that was mainly on my backand with a wetsuit.  I put a nose plug on and did the next 800 fine but there was noone around me.   That is really my only attempt other than the last 2 weeks.  I am going to another fit2train swim this weekend so I should see if I am any better.

Count me in as a maybe.  I definitely want to get in another OWS before the race, but I'll have to see if work permits.

Sounds good.  Check back early next week for more details.

OK. So... is it the murky water... the idea that you can't touch... or something else that makes you panic?

Sounds like the nose plug worked for you though, so that is good.

Did the people around you make you nervous? Are you afraid of them hitting you, or knocking your goggles off? Have you thought about how you will recover if either of those things happen to you in a race?

I think part was the nose plug and I will work to be able to swim without it over time.  Partly I think it was the cold water on my face since I was wearing a wetsuit the rest of me was fine.  I started on the inside (I thought I was on the outside but we swam in a different direction than I thought) and I could just not get going because of the people in front of me and I was afraid if swimming into their feet.  I have been bumped the last 2 times at grapevine and never fazed me (one time did but that is because somebody got to close to my business, hit my legs all you want but becareful).  I really think I will be okay now but I will find out on Sunday.  Also, I don't like the whole deep water start.  I am not very good at treading water and the pool I swim in is only 4.5 feet deep so I can't even practice.  Plus I can't get moving because you can't push off.  I would much rather prefer running into the water.

Ok.  Count me in!  See you guys there.

Great, see you there.  I should be there between 5:45 and 6:00 so depending on when everyone gets there we can start.  The cove is about .70 miles if you go across and back.  The last 2 times I went out we would swim across and regroup and then head back.  That at least gave us people around us for a few minutes to get used to crowds. 

So you're expecting a few others than the BT'ers?

Well, I am planning on being there.

OK, I looked in this thread, but didn't see any directions.

Use the link below to follow to Rockledge park.  Once in the park you will want to head to the right towards the trail head.  There is a restroom by the trailhead.  I will be in a silver honda civic with a bike rack on the trunk.  If you look in the public routes on BT and search for grapevine, you should be able to see my swim from last week and that should give you a good idea where I will be.  Let me know if you need other directions.

 

http://nttr.org/html/northshore.htm

Thanks!

I am pretty sure I know where that is.

Great see you there. 

That looks like the spot they have the Dallas Athletes Friday morning swims. Am I in the ballpark?

I am not really sure, but I thought they swam somewhere else, but I could be wrong or they swim at multple locations.

No, I think it's this other location I have been to before.

How long do you think it would take me to get there from downtown?

I am not really sure but depending on where you are downtown.  Do you know how long it takes to get to DFW airport?  I would add about 10 minutes to that and you should get a pretty good estimate.  The lake is not far from the airport at 114 & 121.  I should be there until 7:00 or so, so even if you are a little late you can just join in.  The area is .35 miles down and back so we should be easy to find.

Yea I doubt I'll be able to make that. I'd expect at least an hour to get out there, probably more considering rush hour.

The Boss OK'ed me to leave early... so I will be there!

Wetsuit is packed and ready!