I always try to swim faster than the sharks. But that's optional.

Don't swallow the water..that's what they kept telling me. There's something to that, try breathign out a little harder and shuttign your mouth when not inhaling/exhaling. try keeping your tounge over the front of your mouth when you open it so you can detect the salt. You will swallow some anyway. I would take tums just before or after it seems to buffer some of the salt (but try this in training & make sure it agrees with you). Also for the rest of the event try using lower sodium drinks and gels (some are much higher than others) but agian train like that and see. I like sour jellybeans to get the taste out of my mouth.

goggles and masks to keep the salt out. Also practice swimmign with your eyes closed and openign them only to site that's what I do if I lose my glasses (or a jellyfish eats the lens see yesterday's w/o repirt).

<<<<<I won't be able to get to the beach before my 1/2 mile swim portion of an aquathlon>>>>>

Yes. Remember there is a current. My last tri was an ocean swim. I did fine on the way out but got caught in the current on the way back and zig zagged the whole way adding about 300 yards to my swim (as per my time).

Try to at least get in the water before the race start and find out how the current flows so you can compensate against it during the race. Ask local swimmers how the current runs in the area.

Good luck.

Laurie

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"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home"
Groucho Marx

Thanks for the info folks. We'll see how it goes.

Shark tip, very important.