Open water swimming
Open water swimming can be intimidating, even to some of the strongest swimmers out there. And for those used to open water, even switching bodies of water can bring on some new fears. Lakes and rivers and oceans all come with their own set of challenges, and often feel different every day.
Even the most irrational of fears can feel very real when you’re in open water, but there are ways to tune your mind out and have a smooth, successful swim.
Remember - a lot of this is mental. Your perceived fears become your reality if you focus too much on them! A very common example - if you’re worried about someone hitting/kicking you, you’ll spend too much time getting away from everyone else, looking for others nearby, and not staying on course. If you change that fear into an assumption - assume that a collision may happen, instead of being afraid of it - you can get closer to the pack and give yourself tools to manage your effort when it does. Something as simple as a quick switch into breast stroke for a few strokes can reset your breathing pattern and get you back on track. Or, popping up and counting to 5 slowly while you catch your breath before resuming your stroke. The more you have practice with being close to others, the less daunting it is, and the easier it becomes to stay on course.
The rest is skill based. If you live near open water, the best thing to do is consistently get out there. Go to organized swims if you can so you have practice being around others. (Never swim alone!) Try to practice with and without your wetsuit so you’re used to both.
If you don’t have open water, practice some of these skills in the pool! Sighting is an easy one; you can also do fast starts from treading water, and practicing turns without pushing off the wall.
On race day, always, always warm up in the water you’ll be swimming in if it’s allowed (or go to a practice the day before!) This can quell some anxiety over that particular body of water and you’ll get used to what you can (or can’t) see underwater, the “texture” of the water, the feel of the ground as you enter and exit, and other elements that will make you feel a little better when its time to dive in.