Comments on: That Feeling of Panic Swimming in Open Water http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/ My Journey from Couch Potato to Triathlete Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:48:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: jeff http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-41320 jeff Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:21:54 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-41320 Just finished my first open water swim (1,500 Meter race). I have been swimming between 1,000 - 2,000 meters in a pool a couple times/week for about a year. I am so relaxed in a swimming pool, that I can otentimes go 5 strokes per breath with no problem. Five minutes into my first open water swim and I completely panicked. Yikes, what an aweful feeling. Ended up swimming 90% of the race on my back ... and then left calf cramped with about 300 meters to go. Long story, short ... I'm going to get some professional training in open water for a few months before going for an open water Sprint or Olympic. Best of luck to all of you. Just finished my first open water swim (1,500 Meter race). I have been swimming between 1,000 – 2,000 meters in a pool a couple times/week for about a year. I am so relaxed in a swimming pool, that I can otentimes go 5 strokes per breath with no problem. Five minutes into my first open water swim and I completely panicked. Yikes, what an aweful feeling. Ended up swimming 90% of the race on my back … and then left calf cramped with about 300 meters to go. Long story, short … I’m going to get some professional training in open water for a few months before going for an open water Sprint or Olympic. Best of luck to all of you.

]]> By: michael http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-40919 michael Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:29:39 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-40919 I just finished the Nation's Triathlon (Olympic) in DC yesterday. I have trained in open water (flat and choppy) swimming 1500m or more with ease. I wear a HR Monitor and my normal HR is 135-140 for swims (aerobic pace). Yesterday I started out fine for about 7 minutes and then something changed - I may have gotten taken in some water, someone kicked me, etc... and I completely blew up!! It was impossible to breathe... like others describe here... panic feeling and unable to catch my breath... unable to return to a smoothe stroke/rhythm. I flipped onto my back and did backstroke for almost the entire remainder of the swim (1200 meters). It was a disaster! When I look at the HR data I spiked right up to 160 bpm and at one point was at 168bpm... way to high for a sustained aerobic swim. I don't know what caused this. It happened once in a Sprint as well but with that shorter distance it wasn't so devastating. After this one I felt really tired and struggled through the rest of the day (oh, I had a blowout on the bike too... rode in a herniated tire!!). Any advice on how to recover from this type of blowup and return to normal pace swim? I would like to do longer distance but not unless I can get out of these freakouts. Thank you. I just finished the Nation’s Triathlon (Olympic) in DC yesterday. I have trained in open water (flat and choppy) swimming 1500m or more with ease. I wear a HR Monitor and my normal HR is 135-140 for swims (aerobic pace). Yesterday I started out fine for about 7 minutes and then something changed – I may have gotten taken in some water, someone kicked me, etc… and I completely blew up!! It was impossible to breathe… like others describe here… panic feeling and unable to catch my breath… unable to return to a smoothe stroke/rhythm. I flipped onto my back and did backstroke for almost the entire remainder of the swim (1200 meters). It was a disaster! When I look at the HR data I spiked right up to 160 bpm and at one point was at 168bpm… way to high for a sustained aerobic swim.

I don’t know what caused this. It happened once in a Sprint as well but with that shorter distance it wasn’t so devastating. After this one I felt really tired and struggled through the rest of the day (oh, I had a blowout on the bike too… rode in a herniated tire!!).

Any advice on how to recover from this type of blowup and return to normal pace swim? I would like to do longer distance but not unless I can get out of these freakouts. Thank you.

]]> By: dan http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-40828 dan Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:44:45 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-40828 today was my first open water competition, I trained for 2 hours in the pool without holding on to the sides 2 days earlier & beyond , this was supposed to be a 30 min event (1mile)3 minutes into my swim I told a lifeguard that i was done.Can you believe all this physical training went out the door becouse a panic attack . i'll have a xanax next time! today was my first open water competition, I trained for 2 hours in the pool without holding on to the sides 2 days earlier & beyond , this was supposed to be a 30 min event (1mile)3 minutes into my swim I told a lifeguard that i was done.Can you believe all this physical training went out the door becouse a panic attack . i’ll have a xanax next time!

]]> By: David Mark http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-40256 David Mark Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:28:39 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-40256 I did my first triathlon today. I did lots of training in the lake where it was held. It went smoothly and I was comfortable. Today, about 100 yards into the race I started to be short of breath. The water was choppy from swimmers and someone behind me had hit me what seemed like a dozen times. I pulled out of the pack, treaded for a couple of minutes and swam alone for the rest of the swim. It is several hours after the race and I think my chest is still tight. (Normal pulse rate, no panic). Yuck I did my first triathlon today. I did lots of training in the lake where it was held. It went smoothly and I was comfortable.

Today, about 100 yards into the race I started to be short of breath. The water was choppy from swimmers and someone behind me had hit me what seemed like a dozen times.

I pulled out of the pack, treaded for a couple of minutes and swam alone for the rest of the swim. It is several hours after the race and I think my chest is still tight. (Normal pulse rate, no panic).

Yuck

]]> By: Tracy http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-39826 Tracy Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:00:14 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-39826 It is comforting to see others struggle also. I had my first OWS this last weekend and it was a complete and utter failure. I was sick on decongestants and could not catch my breath. I don't know if that had anything to do with it or I just freaked out??? I am dumbfounded. I swam a mile in the pool just 4 days before and was gassed 150 yards into the 500 yard swim. I have practiced my OWS on probably 5 different occasions at a local lake with very little problems. This time though, I couldn't get into a rhythmn, when I flipped onto my back to catch my breath I got light headed and dizzy. It was horrible. Since then my plan is to spend 5 days swimming instead of 2 to 3. Spend more time in open water and learn a recovery stroke (back stroke and/or breast stroke) just to get by if it happens again. Very deflating but good to know it is fairly normal for both new and experienced swimmers. To all of you out there I will make you a deal. I won't quit if you don't!!!!! Challenge is why we picked up the sport in the first place, this is just one I didn't figure I would encounter..... Good Luck to all and thanks for you posts, they are reassuring to me and give me hope that others have overcame it so I will too. Heartfelt Thanks! It is comforting to see others struggle also. I had my first OWS this last weekend and it was a complete and utter failure. I was sick on decongestants and could not catch my breath. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it or I just freaked out??? I am dumbfounded. I swam a mile in the pool just 4 days before and was gassed 150 yards into the 500 yard swim. I have practiced my OWS on probably 5 different occasions at a local lake with very little problems. This time though, I couldn’t get into a rhythmn, when I flipped onto my back to catch my breath I got light headed and dizzy. It was horrible. Since then my plan is to spend 5 days swimming instead of 2 to 3. Spend more time in open water and learn a recovery stroke (back stroke and/or breast stroke) just to get by if it happens again. Very deflating but good to know it is fairly normal for both new and experienced swimmers. To all of you out there I will make you a deal. I won’t quit if you don’t!!!!! Challenge is why we picked up the sport in the first place, this is just one I didn’t figure I would encounter….. Good Luck to all and thanks for you posts, they are reassuring to me and give me hope that others have overcame it so I will too. Heartfelt Thanks!

]]> By: Lou http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-38403 Lou Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:08:42 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-38403 I just finished my first triathlon today(sprint) and I can't believe how bad the swim went. It's good to read similar experiences, 100 yards in and I felt like my wetsuit was too tight and just couldn't catch my breath or put my face in the water. I made it through mostly on my back. I guess I need more open water training to get me over this. I just finished my first triathlon today(sprint) and I can’t believe how bad the swim went. It’s good to read similar experiences, 100 yards in and I felt like my wetsuit was too tight and just couldn’t catch my breath or put my face in the water. I made it through mostly on my back. I guess I need more open water training to get me over this.

]]> By: BTS http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-38370 BTS Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:51:14 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-38370 Sue, I am training for my first 70.3 ironman (april 2009) and my first full ironman (aug 2009). I did my first triathlon 3 weeks ago and my 2nd one yetserday. I completely panicked both times. I have swam the same course in non-race conditions and did not panic one time. I also absolutely could not put my face in the water. I tried the breaststroke but it seemed way too slow. i resorted to the back stroke for almost the entire swim except for the last 100m when i could see the finish and just gutted it out. If anyone has any tips please respond. I can get through a 500m open water swim with backstroke but i don't think i can do it for 2000m or 4000m for that matter. Sue, I am training for my first 70.3 ironman (april 2009) and my first full ironman (aug 2009). I did my first triathlon 3 weeks ago and my 2nd one yetserday. I completely panicked both times. I have swam the same course in non-race conditions and did not panic one time. I also absolutely could not put my face in the water. I tried the breaststroke but it seemed way too slow. i resorted to the back stroke for almost the entire swim except for the last 100m when i could see the finish and just gutted it out. If anyone has any tips please respond. I can get through a 500m open water swim with backstroke but i don’t think i can do it for 2000m or 4000m for that matter.

]]> By: JohnM http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-38210 JohnM Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:29:42 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-38210 Similar experience to Amanda, was hoping to make a tri in a couple of weeks, but have not trained for swimming for a couple of years, and never in open water. Got 50 yards out from shore and panicked, then felt like I couldn't catch my breath in the wetsuit. Scary! Any helpful tips on how to overcome this would be greatly appreciated! :) Similar experience to Amanda, was hoping to make a tri in a couple of weeks, but have not trained for swimming for a couple of years, and never in open water. Got 50 yards out from shore and panicked, then felt like I couldn’t catch my breath in the wetsuit. Scary!
Any helpful tips on how to overcome this would be greatly appreciated! :)

]]> By: Amanda http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-37592 Amanda Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:16:12 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-37592 My first tri is in two weeks and I just tried my first open water swim today by myself. What was I thinking? Around two minutes after I started I had a panick attack. How do you mentally prepare yourself for this swim? Floating on my back seemed to help a little bit, but overall it was a very frightening experience. My first tri is in two weeks and I just tried my first open water swim today by myself. What was I thinking? Around two minutes after I started I had a panick attack. How do you mentally prepare yourself for this swim? Floating on my back seemed to help a little bit, but overall it was a very frightening experience.

]]> By: Sue http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/the-reason-you-feel-panic-swimming-in-open-water/comment-page-1/#comment-37539 Sue Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:08:09 +0000 http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/?p=567#comment-37539 I did an Ironman last year with no problem I am now doing shorter swims and guess what? I panic. I did an Olympic while sick and on decongestant medicine (not good) and I am now doing just a sprint distance and not sick but I went for an open water this morning with my girlfriend and panicked again. Once I realaize it's not that bad and you REALLY need to exhale while under water, you can do it. I did an Ironman last year with no problem I am now doing shorter swims and guess what? I panic. I did an Olympic while sick and on decongestant medicine (not good) and I am now doing just a sprint distance and not sick but I went for an open water this morning with my girlfriend and panicked again. Once I realaize it’s not that bad and you REALLY need to exhale while under water, you can do it.

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