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Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! (Page 4)
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 2010-06-28 11:33 AM in reply to: #2947098 |
Elite  3770     |  Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training!Girl you took the words right out of my mouth. Combined with people LEAVING eagleman when they found out it wasn't wetsuit legal and i watched 6 people get pulled from a half mile swim in a lake yesterday, it boggles my mind. Why would you try to do something if you can't do it in practice first? Seriously its all the stupid people promoting the anyone can tri mentality. Sure you can. WITH PROPER TRAINING. |
| 2010-06-28 11:35 AM in reply to: #2948185 |
Extreme Veteran 832 Podunk County, MN | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! JorgeM - 2010-06-28 11:23 AM At the Lake Placid training camp we hosted last week I was in the water on a kayak to mark the turn around for our athletes. There were other coaching groups/athletes out there and while waiting a group of 3 ladies came to my kayak as one was having a panic attack. She rested for a bit hanging off my kayak and while I was telling her to calm down and if she was nervous about drowning to just flip on her back and let the wetsuit help her float. After a 5 min conversation I was shocked her ‘coach’ never mentioned this and also to learn it was her 1st time she was swimming that long AND in open water nevertheless; hard to imagine when LP is less than 4 weeks away. Eventually, a kayak from her coaching group came along and escorted her to the nearest shore. If less experienced swimmers spend sometime learning/practicing OWS, learning some safety tips and getting familiar as to what to do if things get a bit rough, it can significantly improve their safety chances. This reminder should also be intended for experienced/strong swimmers as both groups can experience difficulty at anytime. It is never a bad idea to practice this at least bit at every OWS. Point in case, last year at the RI 70.3 the swim was rather rough (choppy with white caps) and on my way out I began getting rather dizzy with the constant up and down on the waves. In addition, while I knew I could go the distance, I was battling a shoulder injury (still are) and I wasn’t as confident in my fitness as usual. Because of that and the dizziness, I began experiencing some anxiety so I quickly swam to the outside in case I needed a kayak and to avoid other swimmers trashing/hitting me. I stopped for a second doing water polo kick to put myself together and calm myself down. For a brief second I was debating whether to quit or keep going. A kayak saw me but I finally calmed down and felt confident to keep going so I give him a thumb up and resume my swim. I sure was very glad I knew how to react when things started getting tough; that not only allowed me to go onto finishing the race but probably saved me from a tougher experience. Bottom line, whether you are a newbie or seasoned swimmer, make sure you can tackle the distance and most important, make sure to practice/learn what to do in case things get tough out there, it can't hurt at all... This is SO true. Even good swimmers can have a problem that's unforeseen - what we all need to know is how to deal with these problems when you are in the water. Having a mental "backup plan" can be just as important to experienced swimmers, and sometimes it's something they may not have thought through. I had a similar experience to Jorge's in an Oly race last year, and ended up getting so dizzy that I threw up in the water while I was still over my head. That experience was frightening - and I've been a swimmer/lifeguard and around water my whole life. Luckily I was near enough to a pontoon that I was able to get there before I lost my breakfast, but there was moment of "wow - this could be really bad" that shook my confidence severely. We all need to know what we should/could/would do if the unexpected happened. It's that important. |
| 2010-06-28 11:36 AM in reply to: #2948162 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! Great job on taking the proper steps to get properly prepared. Also smart on being OK to pull the race if you can't swim. But I bet you will be ready. We all need to keep in mind that for 1 poster, there might be 10 lurkers thinking the same thing. They just fear posting about it. Reading all the responses helps them. MOD220 - 2010-06-28 11:13 AM thanks for the insightful post. i created one of the newb posts you referenced. like many i focused on running/biking because i can do it by opening my front door, while the swim required a pool or lake. weak excuse, but thats how i viewed things. I'm taking the next 8 weeks before my first tri, and committing all my time to swimming. i have some open water swims scheduled for tomorrow and wednesday. followed by a private lesson in the pool. I'll continue this until race day, and if i'm not ready, I'll back out. but I hope to be ready  good luck to everyone, as others have said, a short distance does not offset the danger of not being prepared. |
| 2010-06-28 11:44 AM in reply to: #2947098 |
| Extreme Veteran 412 Panama City | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! darwin-ism... i've done ows's several times and have never been nervous till reading this, lol. Just sitting at my desk at work reading this thread makes me 2nd guess myself...i'm a supporter of being prepared and safety first, but i think this will spook some noobies off for sure. it's like in Finding Nemo: "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" lol |
| 2010-06-28 11:44 AM in reply to: #2947098 |
Expert 1706 NoVA | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! 1st things 1st---thanks for a GREAT post KSH!!! The only thing I wanted to add was brought up by a few others in passing---do NOT count on your wetsuit to get you through the distance!! Yes we all like the free speed but you should really be OK with doing the distance without a wetsuit! I actually work with a couple of guys that are in very good shape but can't swim despite trying/training so they won't attempt a tri because they aren't comfortable in the water (and yes they can do the distance and then some in a pool...)---I have a TON of respect for them making a SMART decision! |
| 2010-06-28 11:54 AM in reply to: #2948185 |
Elite 3770 | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! Jorge i bet you i can name that group. I was there in 2007 and could not believe the way this coach was yelling at scared newbies some of which were doing their first ows 6 weeks prior to lake placid. You can get away with a lack of training in some sports but not in an IM swim! |
| 2010-06-28 12:08 PM in reply to: #2947293 |
Member 139 Athens | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! nvandyke - 2010-06-27 11:27 PM Water doesn't kill. PANIC in water kills. I had a near drowning a few years back during whitewater rafting (I vastly prefer kayaks; I feel a lot more control in my own boat). The raft guide liked it loose and sloppy and kept bumping into things and knocking people out, and I went under right before what I thought was a fairly mild rapid and got stuck under the boat. What I found so interesting about the experience was how little control I had. I was kicking out from beneath the boat with all my strength and still going nowhere. I was actually very clear-headed through the whole thing, even when I started to suck in water. My survival was a matter of chance, not choice. Obviously we're not swimming in a class V river (which that was), but ocean currents are dangerous too. The sheer amount of force involved in moving water, and the potential hostility of that environment, are things you can't grasp until you're faced with them. Certainly, panicking when you do is a good way to get dead. On the other hand staying calm isn't a guarantee either. So, yes, you need to keep a calm head, and yes, you also need to have the training to avoid and manage dangerous situations and not drown. But you also need to go into it understanding there are risks that cannot be eliminated, no matter how much of a type A control freak you might be, any more than you can absolutely guarantee your eyes and your handling skills are going to keep you from being T-boned on the bike. |
| 2010-06-28 12:12 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
Champion 5495 Whizzzzzlandia Silver member | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! I am a strong swimmer, I swam competitively, and I was intimated by the open water. So I spent the money on taking group lessons to learn how to swim in open water with a tri club. It was the best thing I did. I went into my race confident. But yes, I know that even I am not 100% safe in the water. I too can drown. I am also a strong swimmer and I was completely flummoxed by the swim start @ IMWI. It was brutal. I swam competitively up thru 8th grade, was a lifeguard thru high school and college, and have always been happy and comfortable in the water. That being said, I had to stop @ a kayak during IMWI. It was relentless contact. Feet/arms/legs/heads everything that could hit me, hit me. I love to swim and I couldn't wait to get out of the water. These are things that it's impossible to be prepared for. Know how to take care of yourself in the open water. |
| 2010-06-28 12:13 PM in reply to: #2948249 |
Champion 6962 Atlanta, Ga | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! Skippy74 - 2010-06-28 12:44 PM 1st things 1st---thanks for a GREAT post KSH!!! The only thing I wanted to add was brought up by a few others in passing---do NOT count on your wetsuit to get you through the distance!! Yes we all like the free speed but you should really be OK with doing the distance without a wetsuit! I actually work with a couple of guys that are in very good shape but can't swim despite trying/training so they won't attempt a tri because they aren't comfortable in the water (and yes they can do the distance and then some in a pool...)---I have a TON of respect for them making a SMART decision! Bolded and underlined above. If you are choosing a race because it's wetsuit legal, make sure you can do it without the wetsuit. A wetsuit is like race wheels. They give you extra speed and should not be required to complete the leg. At Eagleman, people didn't start becuase it was not wetsuit legal. And most amazingly at FL 70.3 with a water temperture >84 I saw a guy with a water rover (>5mm wetsuit). The reason he had it on, "I can't do the swim without it". I was just shocked. And when he came out of the water, he found out he was DQ'd because the water was too warm for wetsuits. When I started swimming I could barely get across the pool. Take the time and prepare...PLEASE. |
| 2010-06-28 12:22 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
| Regular 190 | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! I swam into college, was a lifeguard for 4 years, and was a professional coach for 8 years, and one of my biggest fears is drowning. Being comfortable at any distance is great, but respect the water. Swimming is one of the few sports that can save your life, but not respecting your own limitations and/or the enviroment in which you choose to swim, can kill you. |
| 2010-06-28 12:38 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
Master 1591 San Diego, CA | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! KSH, thank you for the post. I was standing on the beach prior to the start of a race talking to serveral first time racers. The waves were breaking at a decent size and 2 of the racers mentioned that they hadn't practiced in the ocean before, let alone done a surf entry. We were watching prior waves of swimmers get tossed and racers give up after getting rolled in the surf. The 2 newbies became worried and with 20 minutes until our wave I took them down to practice getting through the surf. I will admit I was really worried about them come time for the swim start as the practice made them realize that they weren't as prepared as they thought. As pointed out in other posts not only do you need to be confident about the distance, you need to be ready for less than perfect conditions on the water and the unpredictability of other racers. I've battled through waves and ended up with a bloody nose and a bruised jaw as a result of a tri swim. The swim can be unnerving whether you are a newbie or a seasoned racer. There are many factors beyond your control out there, be prepared, practice, train. |
| 2010-06-28 12:42 PM in reply to: #2948305 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! I had a similar experience. Was tubing on the river. We went over a small waterfall and I got flipped over. I went to the bottom and then tried to come up for air. But intertubes were all above me with people in them. I could not get to air. I had a clear mind. No panic. Luckily I finally found and opening. I refuse to go tubing now. Too dangerous for my tastes. frogomatic - 2010-06-28 12:08 PM nvandyke - 2010-06-27 11:27 PM Water doesn't kill. PANIC in water kills. I had a near drowning a few years back during whitewater rafting (I vastly prefer kayaks; I feel a lot more control in my own boat). The raft guide liked it loose and sloppy and kept bumping into things and knocking people out, and I went under right before what I thought was a fairly mild rapid and got stuck under the boat. What I found so interesting about the experience was how little control I had. I was kicking out from beneath the boat with all my strength and still going nowhere. I was actually very clear-headed through the whole thing, even when I started to suck in water. My survival was a matter of chance, not choice. Obviously we're not swimming in a class V river (which that was), but ocean currents are dangerous too. The sheer amount of force involved in moving water, and the potential hostility of that environment, are things you can't grasp until you're faced with them. Certainly, panicking when you do is a good way to get dead. On the other hand staying calm isn't a guarantee either. So, yes, you need to keep a calm head, and yes, you also need to have the training to avoid and manage dangerous situations and not drown. But you also need to go into it understanding there are risks that cannot be eliminated, no matter how much of a type A control freak you might be, any more than you can absolutely guarantee your eyes and your handling skills are going to keep you from being T-boned on the bike. |
| 2010-06-28 2:15 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
| Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! OP and I have actually had a back and forth through IM about this subject in the past. I don't totally agree with her, but I dont disagree with everytign either. I think that there is a difference between swimming and "finishing the swim". I have said that if you can keep yourself afloat for 25-30 minutes (eg- not drown), you could probably finish most sprint distance swims (breast stroke, back stroke, survival stroke, whatever). We agree to disagree on this point, but I thik we have a mutual respect for the others point of view. The folks she is cautioning, are the folks who cannot even do that. It has been said, but the folks that should not go in are the people who have little swimming, or any OWS experience. For example, I could not swin 2.5 miles without stopping, but I could do it without drowning... I would push myself to do it because I know I can do it without drowning, not because Im optomistic. The folks who think, I hope I can do this and be OK, should be worried. I think it is reckless and unfair to others if you enter a swim knowing you have to go from kyak to kyak. This takes eyes off of the field for people who have an ACCIDENT/ EMERGENCY. If you get in over your head and you know it from the start... it is not an accident and it could have been avoided- shame on you for putting others at risk. I thik we can all attest to the fact that one of the big draws to triathlons (as newbies) is that it is something YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE. There is a challenge to it, and overwhelming pride form doing it. I don't think fear should disuade a person from trying, but a little common sense and some personal restraint are called for. As far as a requirement for swim competency for triathlons, the RD's have to assume a certain level of minimum competency... let's not get all big government on triathlons. |
| 2010-06-28 2:47 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
Veteran 300 Massachusetts | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! I may be in the minority here but some of the posts on this thread come off as elitist. Some of you sound like old hens clucking away at how you were worried about some newbies who had less experience than you. Its great that so many of you have all this OWS swimming "experience." You weren't born with it and you didn't get it all from "training" or lessons either. Training is subjective, did you have someone kick you in the face as part of your training, or swim over you, did you mock your own asthma attack, did your coached lesson day happen to fall on a day with rough surf. Most of you probably got it from racing. "I have never swam in open water... should I do the tri?" Some people may only be able to get this experience on race day. I never swam in open water with other people until I raced in my first tri which was an HIM. Luckliy I had read posts on this site suggesting stay back and stay to the side. Worked great, glad I found a site that had folks willing to share their wisdom. This thread does not give people enough credit to make good choices. Yes, the news is filled with fools who make bad choices, yet that is still a very small percentage of the population. The people who post the question as to whether they should race are trying to make good decisions based on feed back. Good for them. Thanks to all those who reply with encouragement and advice. |
| 2010-06-28 2:55 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
Champion 5522 Frisco, TX | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! Couldn't agree with you more Karen! |
| 2010-06-28 3:12 PM in reply to: #2948881 |
Regular 247 Waterloo | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! Agree with the spirit of the post but not necessarily the tone or the melodramatic title. These are supposed to be fun, but yes, you have to put in the time and take the proper precautions. I was amazed at the Pigman Sprint, one of the larger races here in Iowa, to see folks being rescued less than 100 yds. into the swim. I think these are the folks the OP is trying to impress the importance of preparation on... |
| 2010-06-28 3:17 PM in reply to: #2948868 |
Veteran 252 | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! You are right... I am a newbie & I am trying to make a smart choice and fortunately the advice I got from my previous thread is helping me do that. I am getting out there & trying to get all the OWS I can before 7/18. Lucky for me I have easy access to open water but you are right, some people don't have that luxury. |
| 2010-06-28 3:22 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
Master 2404 Redlands, CA | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! I posted this in my mentor group but I think its important here as well: The one thing that I never hear in triathlon and I always hear in surfing is 'no matter how good of a swimmer you are, you have about 10 seconds under water before bad things happen.' If someone gets kicked or trampled in the water there is a good chance they have no oxygen in their lungs; you should practice going under with no oxygen and its tougher because you sink like a rock. I think you should practice water survival in the open but I'll get laughed off the forum for that. Go in 7' deep water with no wetsuit and let all the air out of your body and see what happens. Have you partner intentionally try to drown you in shallow water, you'll be amazed how easy it is to go into panic mode if its never happened. I'm not the best swimmer and I've went over this stuff and it really helps your confidence in the water. |
| 2010-06-28 3:26 PM in reply to: #2947460 |
Pro 4828 The Land of Ice and Snow | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! rstocks3 - 2010-06-28 6:59 AM This is a great thread and a lot of great points are coming out of it. If the thread serves as a wake up call and makes 1 person think twice about what they are getting themselves into in entering a tri without the proper training it has done it's job. Thanks for posting it Karen. Mike, you know that I love to encourage people into this great sport and lifestyle we all enjoy. I have to disagree with you that Karen went overboard with her post. OWS can be intimidating as heck to even accomplished swimmers that have never been in a mass start getting kicked around, elbowed, swum over, etc. All Karen is saying is to spend a little time getting acquainted to the chaos and actually do some swim training so you are NOT swimming from kayak to kayak. Let the kayakers (trained lifeguards) do their jobs and look for people in DISTRESS and not people trying to make it to the next kayak. Heck, I am a pretty strong swimmer and have had races that I have had to stop because I've been belted and swallowed too much water. All this being said my advice to any new triathlete that is nervous about the OWS portion of a triathlon is: WHEN THE GUN GOES OFF ............. WAIT! Start at the back of your wave and wait for 15 seconds before you start swimming. Now you've taken the mass start out of the equation and can relax. If you're worried about the fast swimmers in the next wave catching up to you then swim to the outside. Yes, you'll be swimming 770 yds instead of 750 yds but you will be by yourself and out of the chaos. Those doing their first Ironman mass start can do the same thing. Wait 5 minutes and the lake is all yours. Is 5 min going to put a dent into a 12-16 hr overall time? No, except that it will calm your nerves for the rest of a very long day. Thanks again for the post Karen! Bob I am a strong swimmer (yes, sloooow, but strong) and very comfortable in open water. I plan on doing IMLP next summer and I will be doing just this, let the crowd go and then start. Having only done Oly and HIM distance races where there are wave starts, I think this will be a good strategy . I figure there will be a huge difference between swimming with 200 people ( as were in my HIM swim wave) vs 2000 or so at an ironman mass start. Great advice Bob! |
| 2010-06-28 3:36 PM in reply to: #2948173 |
Extreme Veteran 536 Millersville, MD | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! ChrisM - 2010-06-28 12:18 PM All Karen is saying is to spend a little time getting acquainted to the chaos and actually do some swim training so you are NOT swimming from kayak to kayak. Let the kayakers (trained lifeguards) do their jobs and look for people in DISTRESS and not people trying to make it to the next kayak. I wanted to follow up on something Bob said, for those that have a plan of swimming kayak to kayak (as opposed to reacting to some unexpected event in the water). I learned at IMAZ '08 that the kayaks are for people that need them, they are not there for your resting use (absent above circumstances). I needed a kayak to survive at IMAZ due to an unforeseen medical emergency. Had that kayaker been otherwise distracted by trying to help a newbie that couldn't swim (unlikely at an IM, but you never know), I would not have received the assistance I did, and who knows what would have happened. I grew up in the ocean, played NCAA Div. I water polo, am a divemaster with 1,000 dives, and the sh*t still hit the fan. You just never know. Excellent case-in-point. Swimming kayak-to-kayak should not be Plan A, it should be used in case of distress, not as part of the original plan how to finish the swim because of a lack of swim training. Issues can happen to us all, and the kayaks are there for that, not as a waystation to the finish line. Edited by fgray 2010-06-28 3:45 PM |
| 2010-06-28 3:59 PM in reply to: #2947098 |
Expert 617 | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! It has already been mentioned but I do feel that the OP was a little alarmist. I don't think you HAVE to swim the distance before hand but I think you should and in either case, you should be able float on your back/tread water if you need to at any point. I also don't think you HAVE to do an OWS before hand but I absolutely think you should. Race day will always be a different story but my advice to beginners has always been to focus on preparing themselves properly for the swim, then the bike and then the run. You can hop off the bike and you can walk on the run which is NO BIG DEAL on your first triathlon since the first one is just about the experience and not your finish time. But there really is nothing comparable to swimming in a triathlon. Every single person, whether experienced or a novice, needs to have a healthly respect for water and the dangers associated with it. But, back to the OP. I kayaked in a women's only tri yesterday and was astounded at the number of people being pulled out and I saw at least 5 pulled out within the first 25 yards (and along the shore too). Way too many people clearly were not prepared. But, I also saw a woman (the last one out) who could not have swum that distance in a pool and certainly couldn't do it freestyle but was able to slowly but surely to double-armed backstroke the whole way (not sure why double-armed backstroke). She is an example of how people do not HAVE to do the distance in the pool or an OWS as a prerequisite but absolutely have to have some kind of plan B for when they get tired (or freak out) and need to conserve energy. The scariest people are those who only know how to crawl and have no plan B. And not to drag on longer, but my statement above does not apply to an ocean swim. The ocean scares the crap out of me and is a whole different ballgame for even a very strong swimmer....so overprepare for that one and know what to do if you ever get caught in a rip tide. |
| 2010-06-28 4:09 PM in reply to: #2949010 |
Veteran 300 Massachusetts | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! fgray - 2010-06-28 4:36 PM ChrisM - 2010-06-28 12:18 PM Excellent case-in-point. Swimming kayak-to-kayak should not be Plan A, it should be used in case of distress, not as part of the original plan how to finish the swim because of a lack of swim training. Issues can happen to us all, and the kayaks are there for that, not as a waystation to the finish line.All Karen is saying is to spend a little time getting acquainted to the chaos and actually do some swim training so you are NOT swimming from kayak to kayak. Let the kayakers (trained lifeguards) do their jobs and look for people in DISTRESS and not people trying to make it to the next kayak. I wanted to follow up on something Bob said, for those that have a plan of swimming kayak to kayak (as opposed to reacting to some unexpected event in the water). I learned at IMAZ '08 that the kayaks are for people that need them, they are not there for your resting use (absent above circumstances). I needed a kayak to survive at IMAZ due to an unforeseen medical emergency. Had that kayaker been otherwise distracted by trying to help a newbie that couldn't swim (unlikely at an IM, but you never know), I would not have received the assistance I did, and who knows what would have happened. I grew up in the ocean, played NCAA Div. I water polo, am a divemaster with 1,000 dives, and the sh*t still hit the fan. You just never know. The kayak to kayak bothers me, I thought you got DQ'd if you accepted help?? Or do they just swim up to the kayak and then move along if able. |
| 2010-06-28 4:20 PM in reply to: #2949089 |
Champion 5782 Northridge, California | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! gobey007 - 2010-06-28 2:09 PM The kayak to kayak bothers me, I thought you got DQ'd if you accepted help?? Nope. As long as the kayak doesn't provide forward motion, hanging on it for a rest is legal. Unfortunately...and this is the sort of notion that prompts this sort of thread...some folks misconstrue the permission to hang on a kayak when you are in distress as permission to treat them like a string of rest stops. Edited by tcovert 2010-06-28 4:21 PM |
| 2010-06-28 4:20 PM in reply to: #2949089 |
Expert 617 | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! gobey007 - 2010-06-28 5:09 PM The kayak to kayak bothers me, I thought you got DQ'd if you accepted help?? Or do they just swim up to the kayak and then move along if able. A "sanctioned" kayak is not outside help so you can use it without being disqualified but if you make any forward progress with the assistance of the kayak (i.e. they paddle, or you pull yourself along the boat) you will be disqualified. |
| 2010-06-28 4:31 PM in reply to: #2948868 |
Master 1591 San Diego, CA | Subject: RE: Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! gobey007 - 2010-06-28 12:47 PM I may be in the minority here but some of the posts on this thread come off as elitist. Some of you sound like old hens clucking away at how you were worried about some newbies who had less experience than you. Its great that so many of you have all this OWS swimming "experience." You weren't born with it and you didn't get it all from "training" or lessons either. Training is subjective, did you have someone kick you in the face as part of your training, or swim over you, did you mock your own asthma attack, did your coached lesson day happen to fall on a day with rough surf. Most of you probably got it from racing. "I have never swam in open water... should I do the tri?" Some people may only be able to get this experience on race day. I never swam in open water with other people until I raced in my first tri which was an HIM. Luckliy I had read posts on this site suggesting stay back and stay to the side. Worked great, glad I found a site that had folks willing to share their wisdom. This thread does not give people enough credit to make good choices. Yes, the news is filled with fools who make bad choices, yet that is still a very small percentage of the population. The people who post the question as to whether they should race are trying to make good decisions based on feed back. Good for them. Thanks to all those who reply with encouragement and advice. Gobey, I appreciate your opinion. While I don't agree 100% you make a few good points. I think the concerns voiced in this thread aren't just clucking hens; there is true concern because we're all out on the course together. Having spent a number of years of my young adult life as a lifeguard I've learned that when it comes to the water most people use common sense and come into situations with the best of intentions and as you mentioned "trying to make good decisions," but things go wrong, they misjudge and find themselves in need of help. Most people sign up for races with the intention to be prepared to complete the distance but sometimes they aren't. A Newbie might misjudge the kind of training needed to complete a race and an experienced racer might not heed the advice of a doctor and race with a severe injury or illness. Both situations are dangerous for them and other racers. You are also correct that you can't anticipate every situation, a kick to the face, a high surf day or a misplaced buoy that increases the distance of the race from 500 yards to 800 yards, but you train as much for what you can control. If you are comfortable with the things you can control the surprises are less shocking or dangerous. That 500 yard swim in rough conditions is slightly easier when you are comfortable swimming a slightly longer distance. You are correct, there are things that only can be learned by actually doing an OWS in a race setting (well, unless you're this guy), but you can train to be a stronger swimmer compared to when you decided to take up triathlon. Keep it up to those of you struggling to learn or re learn to swim. It will come and in time you'll be ready for your race. Be safe and make good choices. |
| General Discussion | Triathlon Talk » Water Kills! Can't swim the distance? Never swam in open water? Get the proper training! | Rss Feed |
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