[slow_n_steady]

<p>I raced a HIM on the weekend and something very strange happened to me during the swim. First of all, I am a very comfortable swimmer and really have no fear in the water. The past couple of years, the swim has been my best event, so I don't think what happened has anything to do with fear. The water was also fairly warm, have swum in much, much colder water with no problems.</p>
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<p>It was a mass beach start with around 800 participants, 2000m swim. I seeded myself fairly near the front as I usually do. The gun went off, I went running into the water, started swimming, but as soon as I tried to put my face in, it felt like I was suffocating. I couldn't seem to get any air, couldn't calm my breathing at all. Breast-stroked with my head out for a bit, tried again, 2 strokes, suffocating. I just couldn't keep my face in the water. I didn't have a ton of people around me, so it wasn't as if I was getting pummelled, I just couldn't seem to put my face in the water for more than a stroke or two. I was thinking to myself, omg, I am having a panic attack. I was trying very hard to slow my breathing, relax etc, but it just wasn't working. This went on for probably 300 meters or so until the first buoy, not sure how I even got there. Then it got a little better and I was able to do maybe 5 breaths before I felt suffocated again and had to breaststroke. Went like that for the next 300 or so meters until the second buoy, then I was able to settle in and swim normally. It was a 2 loop course with a beach run, so I took my time on the beach run part, loosened the neck of my wetsuit (even though I don't think that was the problem), and the second loop was a great swim.</p>
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<p>I still ended up with around 40 minutes, which is ok, but I am sure I lost a good 3 or 4 minutes on the first loop. So I am left wondering, what the heck was that about? Too much adrenaline making my HR spike too high? That's the only thing I can think of. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before, and now with full vineman coming up in less than 4 weeks, I am kind of nervous about it happening again. Any advice?</p>

 

[AdCo]

<p>How cold was the water?.. anything below "warm - 70's" and i MUST get in a good 10-15 min before and get used to the "cold"</p>

 

[slow_n_steady]

<p>I don't know the temperature, but it was pleasantly comfortable. I am used to swimming in very cold water here, often in the 50s and very low 60s, and it has never been an issue for me. I got in the water for a short warmup before and there was no cold shock at all in that water, so I don't think temperature was a factor.</p>

 

[em73]

<p>I'm with you in that I'm insanely comfortable in the water - the only reason I don't go on long OWS by myself is that's it's theoretically possible that it's a dumb-*ss idea, not that I'm nervous out in the water by myself.  I drive AdCo crazy.</p>
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<p>I can't ever breathe well during my warmup, and it's worse when I'm wearing a wetsuit (something about the constriction around my chest).  It's also worse in OW, and I'm pretty sure that it's better in the pool because a) I do open turns, and b) I always warm up so I can loosen up my overtight hip flexors and wonky shoulders.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My body seems to need about 7 - 15 minutes to remember how to breathe while swimming.   The harder the effort, the longer the warmup I need, and I need to build it to race effort during the warmup for at least a little bit or I have a crappy beginning of the swim.</p>
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<p>Now, if you did warm up, I don't know what to tell you except that sometimes the race gods are unkind, and don't fret about it for your full race.  You got through it, you reminded yourself that you are so comfortable in the water that feeling like you were suffocating off and on for more than a half mile of swimming only slowed you down by about 10%, rather than ending your day.</p>

 

[niemsco]

<p>Those types of things can happen for a variety of reasons, lungs contracting due to cold water is a typical one, but I've found it has to do with the mind state you have before you take off for the swim.  I've had 3 panic attacks and it has happened in cold and warmer water, and typically my mind was always focused on something else: people, swim times, getting open water, not getting hit, going fast, etc.   When I started to just focus on my stroke mechanics and keep in the present, I've stopped having those things.  So now I mostly focus on my form and getting a good pull and making sure I don't cross over.  Stuff you think about in the pool.   It can be little things that throw you off.  I've heard off 55 minute ironman swimmers having panic attacks, so it happens to the most experienced.  Stay focused, and do all the acclimation things you are supposed to before the swim and you should be good for the vineman</p>

 

[slow_n_steady]

<p>Thanks everyone. In hindsight, I think I ran too fast, then did my first few strokes too fast, couldn't get my breath, and then my brain took over and told me not to put my face in the water so I wouldn't drown. Something like that anyway.</p>
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<p>I went out last night for an OWS, and though I was full of anxiety before I started, of course everything was fine once I got into the water and started to swim.</p>
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<p>Good thing about Vineman is the Russian River is very shallow, so apparently if you panic or get tired, all you have to do is stand up.</p>
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<p>Thanks friends.</p>

 

[cak73]

<p>I try to do a few, short pick-ups during my swim warm-up.  3-4x to get the heart really pumping for a bit.</p>
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<p>I think, like others have said, a swim freak out is just one of those things that happens to just about everybody at least once.</p>
<p>Glad to hear you had a good swim last night!</p>