I am so frustrated... (Page 2)

Hey man -I never did a Tri and coming from a marathoners background, I signed up for the IronMan. No tris, nothing. My race is in a week and given that I just learned how to put my face in the water in January and swim 2.5 miles, I think I've figured it out. Let me share my story because it's similar.Even now, my first 100m is completely jacked up because I can't breathe to save my life. During the race, I've accepted this so 100m in, I'm going to hold the canoes, catch my breath and keep holding the canoes till I'm ready to go long. Don't worry: those guys are there to support you.Here are a few tricks that helped me:1. Get your heart rate up before the swim. I run to expand my lungs so when i am in the water, I have better lungs.2. Relaxxx those muscles. Once in a whole, I panic, sink and everthig is out of control. Face the music, suck it up, and relax.3. Have you practiced any sighting yet? You shouldvexause you can't see in the water.4. Do you live next to an open water? If you do just try practicing to out your head in and out of the water. Lengthen the time it's under water. What sort of personality are you: "Throw me in the deep end and let me fend for myself"? Or "let me work up to it".Hope this helps.