Concerned about first triathlon on Sunday

Welcome to BT!!! 

So as to not reiterate what has been said in countless threads, I would search the forums for OWS and read through them.  You'll find lots of tips and suggestions, stories of people who conquered their first OWS after having concerns just like yours, and lots of other good stuff.

I should know... I have my first OWS race coming up in about a week and you and I are in the same boat.

So I can't really give you any other advice other than what I am telling myself, which is to relax and stop thinking about it so much.  Easier said than done!!! 

Another comfort for you is knowing that at the Danskin tris they are expecting new people and will have a lot of help in the water.  You will have the option to rest in the water by holding onto a water noodle and then continue on.  As long as you don't try to swim with the help you will be okay.  You will NOT be alone in this. 

Other than that, browse through the forum and learn as much as you can.  I think that knowledge of what I should and what might happen makes me feel a lot better.

Good luck on Sunday!

sorry, I'm not gonna coddle you.  20  laps was your long swim and you haven't trained in how long? Postpone this and do one that that you can more properly train for.

You can read all you want today. it's not gonna help for being unprepared in the swim. The water is not the place to go that unprepared. You got more than nerves, you are simply unprepared.

sorry if it's not what you wanted to hear, but you asked. 

If you goal is to finish.  If you your goal is to compete drop out, unless you are a super athlete you will not do well.

If you want to finish here are some ideas.  My first OWS tri is Sunday and I am too a little nervous but feeling more confident since I have had a chance to swim in OW a few times.  Alot of OWS is mental.  My first attempt was horrible, even in a wetsuit and I could swim 2+miles in a pool and barely finished 1/2 mile with a crowd.  Have since gone out with a small group of people and had no problems even with chop.  I just make my self keep going.  At the start, just hang back.  Noone said you must start swimming when the gun goes off.  What a minute let the crowd swim and start.  Breaststroke, side stroke, dog paddle, float, grab a kayak and rest,  just do what you have to.  The average person will be down in probably 15min if it takes you 30 you are only 15 minutes behind.  You can then try and make it up on the bike and run.

This is the kind of advice on this site that drives some of us me nuts. OP states that she's aware her pool would require 35 laps to equal 1/2 mile (25 yd pool). What on earth would make you believe that she is "in good shape" if she can do only 20 laps? AND hasn't trained in a long time.

BTW that's in a pool not OW. They are a bit different.

This post makes less sense than your first. It has nothing to do w/ the OP nor my response.  

And let's not forget, this is Danskin.  This tri is made for people who want to try it out for the first time, women only, etc.  It's a whole different thing.

I volunteered at a tri last weekend and saw ALL abilities.  There were people who had finished, packed up and left while bikers will still coming in.   

Assuming the OP can manage to float when she's tired and finish the swim safely, has an idea of how to do a triathlon with transitions and all that, she'll be fine.  Then she will be so wiped at the end she will vow to herself to never let life get in the way of training again. 

BUT, this seems to have a lot more to do w/ preparedness than ability. I'm all for varied abilities I just think EVERYONE should be prepared.   I also know we aren't always as perpared as posssible but I based my original response on the facts provided. And I stand by it.  Unperpared for the bike and run fine, pull over and your done. Not so easy on the swim.

Did I? huh,  cuda sworn I opined on one person's particular circumstances

I am pretty certain that when the OP used the word "lap" she meant "length," since she referred to the distance as being about 35 laps...  35 x 25 = 875.

So her long swim has been about 500 yards, or just a little bit over half the race.

Is she prepared... probably not... does that mean she should not do the race?  I say no, she ought to give it a go.

So, you've already signed up? And paid money, right? The water is definitely something you don't want to mess around with, but I'm thinking, if you decide to do this, you probably won't be the only one out there who hasn't put in the time on the swim.

But, maybe more importantly, what's your background? Can you sidestroke/breast stroke/backstroke if you need to? Are you competitive? Can you handle being slow, etc. on the swim?

Rollerboy, that's funny!  didn't mean to be harsh, just a realist. despite chi's claim I do not profess to be an expert in any anything. I do speak from experience and having a panic attack in the water is a very scary thing. I would think being unprepared may lead to just that. If that were the case and was combined with your lack of overall training the  ramifications could be serious.

I wish you all the best, whichever you decide.