Swim times getting slower in the pool... a result of racing and OWS?

Its hard to say, but I think I may experience the same effect sometimes.

What I've noticed is when I swim in Open Water I tend to swim a lot slower than I do in the pool.  I think its based on trying to "take it easy" so as not to get tired which keeps the swim panic down and makes it a low stress OWS.

Then when I get back in the pool I start swimming with that same cadence/stroke rate and it's just slow and I have to force myself to push harder to get back to my normal pool swim times.

As I have gotten more comfortable with my swim fitness I'm pushing it harder and harder in the Open Water so the difference isn't as great as it used to be.

Did your training total volume go up? more bike? more run? Is your OWS practice longer or more time than pool practice? How many/how often do you race?

It may not be your OWS practice or races as such but the total volume of races and workouts, including non bike and run workouts, it could be lack of rest or restitution, sleeping, diet whatever. So think about if other things may have changed in your life.

Cheers, Erik

All good questions. I appreciate all of your thoughts.

I don't think it's fitness. My overall training volume hasn't decreased. I would say I'm swimming as much as before. My pool sessions have become a bit longer to make up for lake swims and races, which are a bit shorter -- but they balance out.

Hmmm, this may be similar to what I'm experiencing. I do try to take it nice and easy during an OWS so I don't panic.

My training volume overall hasn't really changed with the exception of adding a mile or so to each of my weekly long runs (when I'm not racing, that is) but that's a difference of 3-ish miles once a week. Usually OWS practice is a shorter sessions, but I've been doing slightly longer pool sessions once a week to compensate. So, where before I might have swum 2000 m three times a week, now I try to swim 2400 m during two sessions in the pool with a mile or so OWS on the weekend (or half mile if it's a race). Sometimes I can do three pool and one OWS, but it's usually two pool and one OWS or three pool sessions if I can't make it to a lake.

It has gotten hotter, so maybe that is sapping my overall energy. Diet and rest haven't really changed. And so far I've done two races three weeks apart (another one scheduled for three weeks after my last).

If getting a bit slower in the pool is a necessary demon of racing, I'm OK with that -- I'll just hoping to be reassured that it's somewhat common so I don't freak out about my getting-slower times. I don't want to see all my hard work go to waste! =D

Timed pool sprints/intervals feel very different from long OWS for most nonspeedsters in the water.

If you do a lot more OWS, you'll be going at a slower avg pace and if you acclimate to that, you'll take that pace back with you into the pool and thus be slower. 

The benefit of pool training is that the clock doesn't lie. OWS has its own unique set of problems but generally, you're not under the clock for 100s-200s or longer, so it is definitely easier to swim at a slower pace.