For some time now I’ve been looking to up my triathlon game. I want to go longer and move up to the international and half iron distances. Going longer means open water swimming. Going longer means getting over my fear of open water swimming.
If you read my Barberitos Sprint Triathlon race report, you heard the story of last season’s breakthrough with my swim. Basically a winter spent working on my swim with triathlon coach, Janine Pleasant, and a lot of prep work lead to a successful 400-meter swim and what I consider my best triathlon experience to date.
Fast forward to this season, after moving to another state, after a job search, after finding a full-time job. I found myself once more starting from scratch in the pool, on the bike and on the run.
I also found myself looking at new races, new locations and new goals. My swim workouts were going well. My flip turns were flipping. But I just didn’t have the same level of confidence that I had last season. Nothing for it but to get back into open water and see were I was. Were races like the Tugaloo Triathlon international distance or the Beach2Battleship half iron distance doable this season?
So on a Wednesday I met up with some Upstate triathletes for a swim in Clemson, SC. They were swimming to some buoys about 750 meters distant and back. I bit too far for my first open water outing of the season, so I elected to just swim around the no-wake buoys near shore until they got back.
As they headed out I waded out, did some bobbing, splashed water on myself, set my goggles and swim cap and dove in. I took a stroke or two and waited. Waited for the crippling fear that would not let me put my face into the water. Waited for the dread that would send me breaststroking back to the beach so I could reset, regroup and try again. But the panic never came. It was like I was swimming in a really large pool.
I swam a small triangle course repeatedly until I noticed the other swimmers returning. I was shocked at how quickly time had passed. I got out with them and chatted. They headed off for a beer. I changed and went for a short run. I drove home thinking could this be real? When I got home I looked at my Garmin data. I had swam about a quarter mile.
Sunday was my next chance to get out for an open water swim. I returned to Clemson with my wife on a sunny afternoon determined to go out like the real swimmers. I equipped with my goggles, swim cap and safer swimmer float, I sighted on a nearby radio tower and set out. I swam for about 30 minutes and then turned around and swam back. It was amazing. Except for a close pass from a sailboat, it was a panic free swim. This time the Garmin data said I had covered 0.80 miles or about 1,400 yards. Is that even possible? This could be a very good season. Stumble on.
Rookie In Training: Open-Water Swimming Anxiety (with links to other OWS articles).