General Discussion Triathlon Talk » uh oh...pre-tri swim woes Rss Feed  
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2006-08-17 12:51 AM

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Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Subject: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
damn, why'd I do that?

I went for one last swim before my mini-sprint tri on Saturday tonight...bad idea

it was a bad night for technique and breathing and so I really struggled and had very little confidence in what I was doing by the end of it all and now that's the psychological place I'm left with going into my race (no time to swim before the race now)

oh well, I think I'm smart enough to push that out of my head and go in all adrenaline filled and ready to push through...although I'm pretty sure I'll be BOP for the swim, but whatever

just felt like relating my woes


2006-08-17 8:32 AM
in reply to: #514223

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Expert
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St. Louis
Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes

it happens, just like a bad bike ride or poor run. it happens to all of us, i'm convinced.  i look at it this way: you got the bad swim out of the way. it's highly unlikely you'll have 2 in a row!!

i take the same approach to fast driving sometimes. if i JUST saw a cop on the corner gunning people, there's probably NOT one a block down the road. whew!

 good luck. enjoy the tri. let your training carry you through.

~B

2006-08-17 8:42 AM
in reply to: #514223

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Champion
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Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
Look at it this way: you were due for a bad swim and got it out of the way before your race. Now you're due for a good swim.
2006-08-17 9:02 AM
in reply to: #514223

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Champion
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Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
What did go right with your swim? (You finished your planned yards, you goggle strap didn't break, etc.) Focus on that, rather than the overall "badness" of the experience (particularly this close to the race).
2006-08-17 9:23 AM
in reply to: #514223

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Medina, MN
Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
Make sure you warm up swimming before your race and try to get comfortable. At my last race, all the people who were dreading the swim just sat up on the beach, and I'm sure it didn't help their nerves or their swim performance....
2006-08-17 9:26 AM
in reply to: #514223

Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
Sorry about the bad swim. Try to focus on the positives and good luck with the race! If you can sneak in a swim prior to the race, do it and you can hopefully erase the bad feeling about your last swim.


2006-08-17 10:09 AM
in reply to: #514223


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Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
I feel your pain. The same thing happened to me my first tri. I think sometimes we focus too hard on the negative when we are anxious or worried. The swim always makes me uncomfortable the days before the race regardless of how hard I train or how fit I am.

There are two things that help me to change that focus and think more positive:
1) Whenever possible I visit the water I will be swimming in prior to the race. Even if I cannot get into the water for a test swim I try to become familiar with the water and the surrounding. I try to picture the distance I swim in training in the water so that on race day the bouys are not playing mind games with me. This puts me more at ease on race day.
2) The second is I watch sports movies that get me pumped the day before. Doesn't matter what sport. A movie that gets my emotions flowing and gives me inspiration to do my best.

Good luck on race day!
2006-08-17 10:12 AM
in reply to: #514223

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Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Subject: RE: uh oh...pre-tri swim woes
Thanks for the tips and encouragement everyone.

I don't really expect it to go poorly because of one bad swim (at least not as much as because most of my swims aren't very good, that one was just particularly bad). Like I said, I'm smart enough to push past it.

I'm going to try to get to the beach by about 6:15 or so (tri kicks off at 7:15), so that will hopefully give me a few minutes in the water beforehand.

I think I'll just go out and kick some . That'll make me feel better
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » uh oh...pre-tri swim woes Rss Feed