things that make you anxious in open water

Things That Make You Anxious in Open Water – Part 1

Uncertainty generates anxiety. The more uncertainties you have about something, the more overwhelmed you can become. Being anxious while swimming in open water may seem to be primarily the result of worrying about one thing, but just as often it can be a function of several uncertainties added together to make a very uncomfortable feeling. […]

The Wild Open Water Environment: Waves and Wind

One of the first things that pool swimmers discover when transitioning to open water swimming is a difference in the water surface – it is rarely as smooth as a pool. Whether a surface ripple, a light chop, variable swells, a tide, a visible current, or true waves with whitecaps, these new variables will challenge […]

Swim Buddy Breathing Cadence

Breathing Cadence & Recovering Your Breathing

In the last post, we considered the importance of complete expirations in the water and a normal breathing rhythm while swimming freestyle, to avoid the build-up of carbon dioxide (which drives the urge to breathe), shortness of breath, anxiety, and even panic when not done adequately. In this discussion, we consider the importance of rate of […]