I am so relieved to see someone else has this problem, I was a nationally ranked swimmer, and can swin 100 yards in 59 seconds, but I get in open water and I panic, I even got out of the water my first race. I have since completed five tri's but the swim freaks me out, I also can't put my face in the water and I have no idea why, I know that I am a strong swimmer and won't drown, especially with a wetsuit on, but I can't seem to overcome this! I would love some advice as well, what I thought would be my strongest part of the race is my worst!!

HELP!!

Before you plan on taking your mp3 player with you in the water, check to make sure it's allowed. A lot of races are very specific about banning them as they are a major safety issue - you need to hear what's going on around you and can't do that if you have a music player.

Can you get your self out into open water any time this week and just play with getting your face in the water? Be relaxed and put your face in the water briefly without any pressure and maybe not even swimming any strokes, just get used to the feel of the water on your face. Don't worry about your upcoming race (that'll cause too much stress), just focus on how you feel and relaxing in the water.

Prior to the race give yourself a chance to get into the water as a warm up and get comfortable in the water in general, do a stroke or two with your face in and some without to get a feel for it. I find a slow, easy warm up swim before a race really helps lessen my anxiety in the water at the start.

If you do panic in the water, it's not the end of the world. Remember that the swim's the shortest part of the race. Try to be aware of and prevent negative self-talk ("I'm panicking again. I'll never be a good swimmer. My race is ruined." etc.) as that will make it worse. I tend to do this and sends my anxiety to unbelievable levels. Accept that you're panicking and work through it.

In my first Olympic tri I freaked when I hit the water, for the first 200m all I wanted to do was get out and go home. I ended up making deals with myself - if I did three strokes of freestyle I could do 10 of breast stroke, then 4 to 8, etc. I think I did about half breast stroke and half freestyle in the end. Wasn't hapy with the swim but I worked through it.

Good luck with your race and let us know how it goes!

Thank you for all of your suggestions, its really kind of humiliating I will try positive thinking though, I am my own worst enemy when it comes to that!!

I used to have this problem to but spent a LOT of time practicing in the pool with my eyes closed, which was also great practice to swim straight - only open your eyes to sight. Think of it as a reallllly long blink while your face is in the water and when you need to breath, open your eyes, and of course when you sight.

Another good thing to do is, while eyes closed (or not), is practice counting your strokes - it gives you something else to think about and since you are strong swimmers anyway, you don't have to worry about your stroke technique, but you need to occupy your mind with something else other than "fear and panic" - just relax, count your strokes, and learn how to go to your happy place when your eyes are closed. It should feel EXACTLY the same way as when you're in your pool.

cheers
Tav

www.gymskinz.com

absolutely! let us know how you make out! You can BARELY see anything in open water anyway so why freak yourself out with all the chaos around you, just relax relax relax and pretend you're swimming in your pool.. water is water so it shouldn't matter if you're in a lake or in the pool

look forward to hearing about your success!

Tav.

congratulations!

Skip the mp3- that is dangerous, and probably not allowed anyway. My suggestion, is one that was given to me by a avid swimmer...do a fake freestyle- your head up and freestyle for your arms and legs. Worked for me! And stay away from other swimmers. If you have to swim a bit longer, it is SO worth it not to get kicked! Good luck-