Race Preparation 
With the sun shining and temperatures climbing, the thought of getting into the open water is certainly a lot more appealing now than it was a few weeks ago writes Liz Scott from thetrilife.com. Are you looking forward to it, or do you dread the thought of open-water swimming?
As you already know, most triathlon swims are held in open-water so, if you want to progress beyond pool-based triathlons and open your race schedule up to some of the more exciting and scenic events on the triathlon calendar, you'll need to swim outside.
What is open-water swimming?
For the purposes of triathlon, open-water swimming is the swim leg of the race, held in an outdoor body of water. This could be a river (like the Toshiba Windsor Triathlon), a lake (like all the events at stunning Dorney) or even in the sea.
What's different about open-water?
There are lots of differences you need to take into account when moving from the pool to open-water. There's no line on the bottom to guide you, no lane ropes and no wall to hang on to every 25m. Instead you get a sense of freedom, excitement and a huge adrenalin boost! Of course, it's usually colder than the pool (although open-water can warm up a lot during a hot summer), and you'll be in a wetsuit, so there are those sensations to consider too.
Open-water swimming skills we recommend you develop and practice
- getting used to the water temperature. Control your breathing, take your time...and let a bit of water into the collar of your wetsuit!
- breathing. A simple act but so important! Learn how to control your breathe in colder water and under race conditions.
- sighting - the art of seeing where you're going. This takes practice but is a must if you want to get from A-B via the shortest route.
- turning around markers and buoys. Learn how to avoid getting caught up in the melee and how to get going quickly after a turn.
- pacing yourself so you get round - and maybe speed up a little towards the end if you can.
It's always best to learn from a coach and practice in a controlled, fun environment. Why not book onto one of our open-water coaching days? They're led by triathletes and open-water swimmers who will patiently and gently coach you through all you need to know, whether you're a complete first-timer to open-water or want to gain a bit more confidence, speed or skill.
See you there!