The Community Answers, “How Did You Get Comfortable Enough to Swim in the Open Water?”
Every open water swimmer has a different origin story. We recently asked the open water swimming community, “How did you get comfortable enough to swim in the open water?” Here are the many responses we received on Facebook and Instagram.
“By swimming frequently and building up time in the water.” - Shon Johnson
“With a friend and a wetsuit at a quarry in Virginia…panic central for the first two sides / lengths around a triangular shaped course…my buddy kept saying “just relax—you’d have to try to drown in that wetsuit…breathe and take 20 strokes.” Eventually, I calmed down and had a great afternoon. 2 weeks later, I swam my first 1 mile race.” - John D. Day
“Practice, lots of practice!” - @kristybarrett_20
“I made sure I could swim a mile nonstop in a pool while practicing sighting and alternate breathing.” - @linzalu
“Try paddle boarding on the water places you swim, have a picnic, make friends there -- make it a second home!” - @vinvanman
“Lots of exposure with no pressure on distance. I did a lot of “splash + dash” events in Cupertino to prepare for my first 70.3.. Eventually became more comfortable with open water!” - @ultraheidi
“I started swimming at a dog beach with my coach at the time. The dogs were super comforting. Except when a black lab was swimming behind me and i almost 💩myself not knowing what the shadow following me was 😂😂.” - @bmxjillian
“All the pools were closed and I needed to swim. And nothing makes me feel more brave and strong.” - @sasilvey
“Learning to surf at Ocean Beach and getting comfortable with swimming in rips, waves, current, and tide swings.” - @soundseas
“Friend had cancer. 2-mile open water swim created to raise money for her and others. I figured her battle far outweighed my trepidation and just did it.” - @crgkoko
“I had swum and snorkelled in the sea since childhood but took up OWS many years later. Started by swimming between steps within a sheltered area. 2 x 50m, 3 x 50m, 3 x 50, 2 x 100, and gradually up to around 600m. Longest swim so far is 18km.” - @bertiebirdman
“Practice and more practice in open water. Pool practice is not necessary since it is a different environment.” - @alxsun1
“I’ve been in lakes all my life. It’s never been an issue for me.” - @tazio81
“Five years in the Atlantic and I still think about you know what.” - @pjmills101