Fit City

By Mark Cathcart

August 12, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

This is me at the recent Marble Falls triathlon; I had an epic battle on the bike with the guy you can see in the distance behind me, we averaged 23MPH over a hilly Route 71 west of Marble Falls, coming back into T2 I was ready for my normal very fast dismount and sprint through transition, I looked down and saw I was still doing 20MPH at the dismount line, no way I could run that fast and dismount, mistake, pulled the brake, bike went backwards, I crashed to the ground and rolled over. No real damage done, scary yes, wounded pride yes, finished race yes. http://pics.livejournal.com/triman/pic/000dgcsb

The Picture was tekn by Kevin Saunders of KGS Bikes, http://www.kgsbikes.com/

By Roy Moore

August 12, 2009 2:01 PM | Link to this

I almost became a statistic at last year’s Couples Tri. Had a panic attack in the water. They teach you to backstroke or float on your back when you get in that situation. I tried that but found that my hyperventilation only became worse! finally made my way to the first buoy and was able to hold onto the canoe until i calmed down a bit. Was a very scary situation but I did finish the race. I have since participated in 4 more triathlons without significant panic issues but i definitely see how someone could panic and perish in the swim.

By Claudia

August 12, 2009 5:15 PM | Link to this

My first triathlon was a sprint last summer. Although I had done a little open water swimming prior to the race, nothing really prepares you for that feeling of being out in the water, away from the shore, and not able to see very much. I definitely felt panic, but then the thought of how hard I had worked calmed me down and kept me going. I didn’t know it, but I had actually broken a toe on a rock when starting the swim, but this didn’t factor much into my race.

I think the key to avoiding problems in the water is to get in as much opening water swimming as possible prior to the race. In Austin, there are monthly clinics available. Training with a group is also really good. And I personally find it helpful to review the swim portion of the race in my mind - to visualize myself doing it in a calm and successful way.

Some people tend to underestimate the swim - they may be used to swimming in a pool with great visibility and then are surprised at the psychological issues they encounter with the open water swim. I think people who do their first tri should realize it is different than running a 5k; there are definite issues with open water swimming that have to be dealt with successfully before the race starts.