Congrats on setting this challenge for yourself!

1) I would recommend not following swimmers around you and doing your own course sighting of the turn buoys. Do not assume these other swimmers are on course.

You can practice sighting in a pool every 3 - 5 strokes or so. The actual frequency of sighting during your even will depend on a number of things, though, but it may be in the 5 - 10 stroke range. It is very easy to get off course in open water and you can easily end up swimming a longer distance if you are constantly going off course a bit and then getting back on course.

It feels unnatural to pick your head up and look ahead while you're swimming, which is why I think it's important to practice.

2) Also, I would recommend practing breathing on both sides. Some folks have a favorite side and breath exclusively to one side, but when you are in open water that could be choppy, etc., you may have to breath to your less favorite side to get some air and not just a mouthful of water.

To get some open water swims workouts before your event, maybe you can hook up with a triathlon training group in your area and join them for group open water swims so you are not on your own.

Best of luck!

If you are nervous.

Start behind the first line of people. People in the front line tend to be the most aggressive and will swim over you.

Swim solid and tend to stay with the general group. People do zig zag but the majority will go towards the buoy.

As you feel comnfortable pick up the pace.



If you are out to do really well.

Go to the front line.

At go just go flat out. Check every fifteen twenty strokes and line yourself up.

Theres a theory that wherever you are at the halfway mark is where you will be at the finish. So go hard for the first 500m and then hold on. While one or two may overtake its not the majority.

Take note of the five people that finished just ahead of you. Try and beat them next time



Reagrdless enjoy it. Open Water swimming is the greatest.