Well, today was the day of my first open-water swim. I met Ryan, Trina, Brent, Jason, and Todd at Clocktower pond after work. I was more than a little nervous for a few reasons; not knowing what it would be like swimming in open water, not being able to see where I was going, and not sure about the cleanliness of the water. There was also the challenge of getting the wetsuit on properly. As I looked around the parking lot, there was a large group of tri swimmers there to do the same thing, and I was convinced they were all experienced triathletes and that I was going to embarrass myself (or drown).
Once we were all suited up, we got into the water. The temperature was surprisingly comfortable with the suit's insulation. We surveyed the route we were supposed to take, a large triangle to points on the pond's bank. To swim this triangle twice is 1.2 miles, the distance of our IM swim.
After stalling for a few minutes, I decided I needed to nut-up and give it a try. We started off and I immediately got to experience not being able to see anything. The water was cold on my face and murky green. This was not my lap pool! Within about 50 yards, I had no idea where I was on our intended route, but had no experience with sighting without losing rhythm. I stopped altogether to see where I was and felt an odd disorientation and a panicky feeling. I immediately rolled onto my back and kicked gently to regroup. Brent swam up alongside me wondering if I was ok. I'm sure I must have looked wild-eyed.
We decided to swim to the bank of a little peninsula on the pond. Once there we considered our options. My first choice, and I'm being serious, was to swim back to the start, and later sell all of my tri shit and stick to marathoning. We decided to swim a short route between the peninsula and a dock, out of the main route so we wouldn't be in anyone's way, and so that no one could see our little spectacle. We did this a couple of times and then met up with Ryan and Jason who were just finishing their first trip around the triangle.
We talked with them for a bit and then decided to give it another try for their second trip around the pond. This time, I told myself that I knew how to friggin' swim. I've put over 40 miles in the pool since January and my technique was well-entrenched in muscle memory. I just needed to get over the murky water thing.
We started off again, and this time I slowed everything down in my head and stayed relaxed. Low and behold, I was absolutely fine. I settled right into my normal rhythm and felt myself slicing through the water. There was still the issue of not knowing if I was staying on course, so I figured out a way to look ahead occasionally without coming to a complete stop. It's probably not textbook, but it worked for me. Brent and I stuck pretty close and made our way from point to point.
We met up at each point of the triangle briefly before starting the next leg. I was really enjoying myself and amazed at how quickly my opinion of this had reversed.
We arrived back at the start and I was completely stoked. I was once again swimming effortlessly, and although I hadn't made two trips around, I no longer have any doubt about completely the swim leg of the event.
We're meeting again on Saturday for a swim-bike brick session, and I'm feeling re-energized. A nice contrast from my self-pity post from last night.
Once we were all suited up, we got into the water. The temperature was surprisingly comfortable with the suit's insulation. We surveyed the route we were supposed to take, a large triangle to points on the pond's bank. To swim this triangle twice is 1.2 miles, the distance of our IM swim.
After stalling for a few minutes, I decided I needed to nut-up and give it a try. We started off and I immediately got to experience not being able to see anything. The water was cold on my face and murky green. This was not my lap pool! Within about 50 yards, I had no idea where I was on our intended route, but had no experience with sighting without losing rhythm. I stopped altogether to see where I was and felt an odd disorientation and a panicky feeling. I immediately rolled onto my back and kicked gently to regroup. Brent swam up alongside me wondering if I was ok. I'm sure I must have looked wild-eyed.
We decided to swim to the bank of a little peninsula on the pond. Once there we considered our options. My first choice, and I'm being serious, was to swim back to the start, and later sell all of my tri shit and stick to marathoning. We decided to swim a short route between the peninsula and a dock, out of the main route so we wouldn't be in anyone's way, and so that no one could see our little spectacle. We did this a couple of times and then met up with Ryan and Jason who were just finishing their first trip around the triangle.
We talked with them for a bit and then decided to give it another try for their second trip around the pond. This time, I told myself that I knew how to friggin' swim. I've put over 40 miles in the pool since January and my technique was well-entrenched in muscle memory. I just needed to get over the murky water thing.
We started off again, and this time I slowed everything down in my head and stayed relaxed. Low and behold, I was absolutely fine. I settled right into my normal rhythm and felt myself slicing through the water. There was still the issue of not knowing if I was staying on course, so I figured out a way to look ahead occasionally without coming to a complete stop. It's probably not textbook, but it worked for me. Brent and I stuck pretty close and made our way from point to point.
We met up at each point of the triangle briefly before starting the next leg. I was really enjoying myself and amazed at how quickly my opinion of this had reversed.
We arrived back at the start and I was completely stoked. I was once again swimming effortlessly, and although I hadn't made two trips around, I no longer have any doubt about completely the swim leg of the event.
We're meeting again on Saturday for a swim-bike brick session, and I'm feeling re-energized. A nice contrast from my self-pity post from last night.
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