"Always be mindful of what is out there but don’t let it stop you from enjoying yourself."
Open Water/Summer, 2016 17
4. You still need to warm up
Even though you don’t have any lane ropes, you still need to warm up. Just by spending five minutes at an easy pace, you can get use to the conditions, including any waves, currents and water temperature. This becomes even more important if you decide to swim an open water race as a proper warm up will get you ready for the main event.
5. Sight regularly
Always remember to sight regularly as it's easy to find yourself travelling off course. Bilateral breathing will help if you have any imbalance that can send you off course. Try to use a landmark in the distance to swim towards to help you keep on track.
6. Fuel and hydration
Make sure you're properly fuelled especially in cold conditions or if you are planning to swim for a long period of time. You will be burning a lot more energy in colder conditions so be careful and keep in mind that you should also be replenishing fluids.
7. Tackle large waves the same way you would tackle a hill climb
I tell people now that when you first get into choppy conditions, just imagine that you are tackling small hill climbs in the water. Slow and steady, short strokes, breath continuously and then up the pace when you feel more confident. Try and find a rhythm with the waves.
8. You're mostly worried about what you don’t know
Not knowing what is swimming underneath you can kill the confidence of even the strongest swimmer. Always be mindful of what is out there but don’t let it stop you from enjoying yourself.
9. Enjoy yourself
Most of all, make sure you take a moment to realise you are doing something really cool and experiencing something, that unfortunately, not a lot of people get the chance to do.