Long Distance (Open Water) Swimmers: Sinus Issues?

pucenavel

In less than a month, I'll be participating in a 10k open water swim. As part of my training, I've been upping my mileage in open water to around 6000m three times a week, with two shorter pool swims each week. I'm spending about 2 hours in the water on the long, open water swims and about an hour for the shorter pool swims.

Over the winter, I'd been doing one 2-hour swim in the pool and the two shorter pool swims.

Over the last few weeks, as I've built up my distance to over 20,000m per week, I'm noticing that my right nostril is congested for 1-2 days after the lake swims. I've never had a problem with this before in the pool. It's only the right side (I am a left side breather & don't bother telling me to alternate breathing - tried and failed at that several times over the last 30 years, it just ain't happenin' - something about my physiology just doesn't allow enough air to come in with my head turned to the right)..

I'm going to try using a nose plug this weekend to see if that helps, but I loathe the idea of wearing it - just feels odd, and I've got the ability to breathe in and out through my mouth and nose at the same time, so I'm a little concerned that I'll be reducing my air supply in doing so.

Here is my questions: Anybody else have this problem? Do you have any suggestions for avoiding it? Could it be allergies to something in the water?

Thanks