Open Water Swimming – Keys To Success
So you are caught in the middle of a giant pack, a swirling mass of humanity at the start of a large open water swim or triathlon.You do want to avoid physicality and you wish the athletes behind you and beside you would stop slapping your feet and swimming into you. What do you do? What can you do? What should you do?
One means to protect yourself and give yourself space is to put some Vaseline or lanolin on your ankles, lower legs and shoulders. Just a thin veneer of petroleum jelly will do. If the swimmers next to you get a handful of Vaseline or lanolin on their hands, it is highly unlikely they are going to keep slapping at your feet and grabbing your ankles.
Copyright © 2013 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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