Lessons learned from swim training

Learn to breath on both sides.

This helps increase your breath frequency (example: breath every 1.5 cycles, instead of every 2 full cycles).
Also allows you to be flexible if someone is splashing like crazy next to you every time you need to take a breath.

raise your head up straight ever 8 or 10 strokes to see where you are going. Unless your lake has a black line to follow.

If you feel a little dizzy at the very end of the swim (I did and do) take just a few seconds to stand in the water to retrieve your equilibrium before walking out of the water.

1) Keep your goggle straps inside your swim cap during a race in case someone kicks you in the head and they fall off.

2) Be prepared to have to deal with swimming into the sun's glare in open water swims that start early in the am! If your goggles have UV protection, that is good

3) Learn to float on your side

4) Keep your rotator cuff muscles balanced to avoid shoulder injuries. Shoulders are fragile and take a LONG TIME to heal as the blood supply is not good to this area.

JB

I really like the goggles with prescription lenses. It's nice to see what it is you are looking at -- or for. Adds a lot of confidence in open water.

Fighting the other swimmers is a huge drain. It is better to be patient, move off to the side, even tread water than to waste energy slapping hands with the guy next to you who has about your same pace - get out of the pack! The longer route is better than the high stress swim!

I wish i had a big'ol set of gills! pool opens march 8th then i will be a swimming fool!

Guys,

If you are not wearing a speedo, or some form of streamlined suit, you are working WAY harder than you should.

Some people intentionally wear "drag" suits to offer resistance. If this is not a training technique you are employing, then you need to be wearing some more aerodynamic. You might not think it makes much difference, but it does. It is all about being streamlined in the water.

If modesty is holding you back, then you need to get over it. There are plenty of suits out there (including jammers - more of shorts suit, or you can wear a pair of tri-shorts). Any serious swimmer will want to address this right away. If you catch any flak from anyone, you can be sure they are not swerious about their swimming.

Dan

unless you like to puke!