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Open Water Swimming

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Wednesday Mouse Aug 2021 11:53pm, 5 Aug 2021 1,567 posts	Quote Pin Wednesday Mouse Ouch. Swim event mass starts can be pretty violent - lots of people all together, not great visibility, the water churns a lot meaning you have tunr your head more to get a breath.. Its a bit chaotic. I was once swam over by a bloke at the start of a Great Swim event in London a few years ago. No injuries, though I think that was more through luck than judgement. Certainly wasn't pleasant!
swittle Aug 2021 8:11am, 6 Aug 2021 78,189 posts	Quote Pin swittle
LazyDaisy Aug 2021 8:36am, 6 Aug 2021 33,953 posts	Quote Pin LazyDaisy A couple of friends went to the lake a few years ago - one having his first OW swim to start training for an OW event, the other a very experienced OW racer. They got into the water and the experienced guy started barging into the other one, pulling his legs, elbowing him etc. The newbie protested and was told he needed to get used to it because that's what race starts were like
LindsD Aug 2021 8:59am, 6 Aug 2021 48,926 posts	Quote Pin LindsD
LindsD Aug 2021 9:00am, 6 Aug 2021 48,927 posts	Quote Pin LindsD I've only done one mass start and despite starting at the back, got kicked in the face.
EvilPixie Aug 2021 9:13am, 6 Aug 2021 27,019 posts	Quote Pin EvilPixie I'm ok with mass starts I've DNFd through sickness on 2 swims both have been waves
Little Nemo Aug 2021 11:42am, 6 Aug 2021 12,441 posts	Quote Pin Little Nemo I was once swum over in a virtually empty part of a lake in a race. I was incensed! I've only ever done small races and I always start at the back to avoid the scrum.
LazyDaisy Aug 2021 1:36pm, 6 Aug 2021 33,956 posts	Quote Pin LazyDaisy Pix do you wear earplugs for OW swimming? That pretty much cured my seasickness.
EvilPixie Aug 2021 1:42pm, 6 Aug 2021 27,030 posts	Quote Pin EvilPixie no - I avoid them as I'm half deaf so worry about hearing things but I also get water in my ears that then can slightly impact balance so I may try again my pool has an outside pool - they are turning the heating off on the 29th and trialling allowing cold water swimming in September which I may try
Rosehip Aug 2021 4:19pm, 6 Aug 2021 22,033 posts	Quote Pin Rosehip Is anyone at Box End on Sunday morning and if so 8 or 9? I haven't swum yet this summer, about time I did!