Home » Outdoor & Recreation » Outdoor Recreation » Swim Free

Swim Free

© Cameron Walker

The sun hadn't even peeped over the hill, and I was already hot. My heart pounded. I felt squeezed in all directions, and sort of, well, rubbery. It was my first open-water swim.

I was training for my first triathlon this summer. Although all parts of the event - swim, bike, and run - intimidated me after several months of inactivity, the swim inspired the most irrational fears. I had probably spent too many hours as a little kid in the clear, chlorined waters of my local pool. Whenever I saw a murky lake, I froze. As the water lapped around my toes, I started having visions of deep water alligators, and the fearsome lake sharks. Okay, I was crazy.

Now, having completed two triathlons, I'm in love with open-water swimming. But the journey from lake sharks to confident swimming took a winding path.

I started out preparing for open-water swimming by testing out a calmer environment - a pool. By practicing breathing drills, I felt more confident in the water. I also steadily increased my distance over several weeks. I learned to be a better swimmer (and a triathlete) with the help of coaches, mentors, and participants of the Leukemia Society's Team-in-Training (http://www.teamintraining.org). But if you're mainly interested in improving swimming, a Master's program can provide coaching and motivation for all levels(http://usms.org). There are also drills and swim tips available on several website. I usually head to TriNewbies (http://www.trinewbies.com), because it's aimed at beginners like me.

When it comes to the open water, you may have an advantage that pool swimmers don't - a wetsuit. Wetsuits keep even the most lead-legged swimmers afloat. It's nice to know that you can come to a complete stop in the water and still bob about like a cork. Wetsuits also provide warmth for cold water lake and ocean swimming. Several companies make a range of wetsuits for different water temperatures and swimmer preferences. I have a wetsuit made by Orca, which I like. Other wetsuit companies include DeSoto and Quintana Roo. All of these can be found at TriSports (http://www.trisports.com).

Getting in and out of the wetsuit can be a challenge. A swim wetsuit is much tighter than one worn for surfing or other water sports. To slip in more comfortably, I use a lubricant called BodyGlide on my ankles and wrists. I also put the glide under my arms and anywhere else that might chafe during my swim. It's important not to use Vaseline to get into your banana skin - it can eat away at your wetsuit. You can also speed up the process by wearing socks, which make the suit slip more easily over your feet. (But be sure to take the socks off before getting in the water).

The copyright of the article Swim Free in Outdoor Recreation is owned by . Permission to republish Swim Free in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.