There’s a moment in almost every open water swim start where things feel a little out of control. The start line is crowded, tension is high, and then – suddenly – it’s go time. Arms flail, legs kick, and the water turns to whitewash.
One of our athletes captured that feeling perfectly after her recent triathlon:
“The absolute chaos of the start, tried to stay out the way but arms and legs were flying and I felt pulled down a few times…”
If you’ve ever raced in open water, you know this scene. It can be overwhelming – even for experienced athletes. But what stood out to me wasn’t the chaos. It was what she said next:
“…but guess what… for me, I stayed as calm as I’ve ever done in that environment, with self talk of, this will pass.”
That’s not luck. That’s not just “toughing it out.”
That’s the result of consistent, deliberate practice.
This athlete has been a regular at our open water sessions each Saturday – week after week, getting comfortable with close contact, developing awareness in the water, and building the skillset to respond, not just react.
Things like water polo strokes to help bring awareness to the chaos. Being proactive, not passive. Choosing to create space rather than waiting for it. Holding technique under pressure. Staying mentally steady when it counts.
She didn’t just survive the chaos. She navigated it.
“Some water polo, clear ahead for a while, get into some swim strokes, then same again, probably 3 times of this and then we could get on and I established a sense of rhythm.”
That’s it. That’s composure in motion. Not letting the conditions dictate your mindset, but holding your focus and making decisions – even when the water is wild.
And the reward?
- She got into her rhythm.
- She didn’t burn unnecessary energy fighting the environment.
- She stayed present, calm, and in control of her race.
These are the moments that separate a frantic swim from a focused one. The difference isn’t just physical – it’s mental. And it’s trainable.
We don’t show up on Saturday mornings just to swim laps in the docks. We’re rehearsing exactly this:
- Staying calm when it gets close.
- Making smart, early decisions.
- Finding rhythm in the middle of chaos.
So when race day comes, the madness isn’t a surprise.
It’s familiar. You’ve been here before. And you know what to do.
This athlete did. And it showed.
Want to build this kind of confidence in open water?
Our Saturday open water group sessions are designed exactly for this – helping you stay calm, make smart decisions, and find rhythm even when things get chaotic.
We practice the skills that matter on race day: close contact swimming, sighting, drafting, awareness of your surroundings, using your water polo strokes, and staying in control – mentally and physically.
Want to join us? Message me if you’d like to build this skill set and feel more confident in open water. Everyone is welcome!
Discover more from Triathlon Swim Squad
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.