Subject: RE: Open Water Swimming Advice Some things that may help: * Make sure you get past the "gasp reaction" before you start swimming. Putting your face in cold (or cool) water causes an automatic reaction to hold your breath. That subsides as you get used to the temperature, but if you start swimming while still in that state, you'll find yourself in oxygen debt quickly and will have a heck of a time getting past it. * In the pool, I breathe on either every third stroke (alternating sides) or do a 2-3-2-3 alternating pattern. Often in the open water I will end up doing a continuous 2 pattern (on one side constantly), and sometimes need to switch sides for waves/sun/sighting. Upshot -- you may need to take a breath more often in open water. * Sighting can be an issue for a lot of people, and the trick is to time it and make it brief enough that your feet aren't dropping in the water. Don't worry too much if you don't get a full view of your surroundings on any particular stroke, just take a mental snapshot and start processing it. Take another mental snapshot on the next stroke and refine your course. Hope that helps. |