An open water event is a great opportunity to test your swimming skills and can range from national competitions for serious athletes, to less scary, group events in glorious surroundings. Either way, the key to success for any event is in the preparation. So whether it’s your first time or you’re looking for a refresher, these four tips can help you feel confident and ready to go.
- Prepare your kit in advance
This might sound obvious, but the last thing you want is to arrive at your event to find that you’ve forgotten a vital piece of equipment. Make a list of all the kit you need, including spares, and pack your bag the night before the event. This way you can be confident that you have everything you need.
A few handy bits of kit you’ll need to remember, depending on your swim are: a swimsuit or wetsuit, swimming cap and goggles. But don’t forget a woolly hat, suncream, socks and some cosy, comfy clothes to change into. It might be a warm day but you’re likely to feel chilly when you leave the water and it’s important to stay warm! If you’re not sure about what to bring then join our Straight Line Swimming Facebook group for some friendly advice.
- Eat the right grub
Don’t be tempted to skip breakfast before an open water event. Your body will need the fuel for warmth and energy, so it’s important to eat the right things. Many articles on event day nutrition will advise that porridge is a good breakfast option. This is okay but ultimately it’s full of sugar and you will feel hungry again. We recommend that you have a good source of protein and some healthy fat for breakfast as this will help to give you the slow burning energy you’ll need. An ideal breakfast before an event would be eggs and avocado on toast or if you are keen to stick to porridge then try cracking an egg into it once its cooked – think custard here not scrambled egg! – and a spoonful of nut butter. Healthy, nutritious and delicious! Need more advice? Take a look back at our Wild Swim Brothers Event here.
- Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses
We’ve already mentioned that the key to confidence on event day is in the preparation. So whilst training for an event, spend some time thinking about your strengths and weaknesses. On event day you’ll be able to draw on your strengths in the water to help you to mentally prepare and stay on track on your swim, but understanding your weak points is just as important. By giving this a little thought up front, you’re likely to feel more confident because you will have already come up with proactive solutions. Finding a coach to work on these areas with you is a great way to feel as though you’re taking positive steps towards improvement and our coach finder is a good place to find your ideal local coach.
Likewise, refresh your memory with all the great techniques you’ve learned along your open water swimming journey. Perhaps it’s a particular body position that helps you move through the water more efficiently or how to control your breathing. If you’re keen to learn more about either one of these things, we have great CPD courses that focus on technique and can help you feel confident on the day of the event.
- Remember, the only person you need to focus on is you!
It’s natural to be thinking about how great everyone around you appears to be doing but you don’t know what might be going on in their heads, they may be thinking the same about you! The important person to focus on is always yourself because ultimately, you only have control over your own thoughts and actions. A good tip is to reflect on all the hard work you’ve put in to getting to this point and perhaps more importantly why you are doing the event in the first place. Take in your surroundings and enjoy every moment.