Surviving a Chaotic Triathlon Swim Start

I remember the first mass swim start I had. Near the Montauk Lighthouse in water that was a chilly 67 degrees. Considerable chop from a substantial "breeze" angled in on the beach. Beautiful but blinding sun rising exactly in the direction we would swim. Certainly a picturesque way to start my first sprint triathlon.

Unfortunately for me, it didn't stay that way too long.

I had trained fairly well, as best as a newbie could, so I felt confident, even underneath the serious pre-race jitters, that I could navigate the swim well. I knew I was not a great swimmer, more of a survivalist who was athletic enough to enter a triathlon. All in all, I thought I could get through easily enough and then jump on the bike where I could find my strength.

Well, plans don't always work so well. When the race director blew the horn, everything went wrong. I allowed adrenaline to get the best of me, and I entered the water too quickly. I ended up bunched with swimmers who had more strength and competence than me. What happened next was a true, unadulterated pummeling.

Not only did I swallow several mouthfuls of salt water, but I got kicked in the upper lip and nose remarkably hard. It knocked the goggles off my face and bloodied one nostril. No more than 50 meters into the swim and I was disoriented and in trouble.

I spent the next 900 or so meters trying to recover, mixing swim strokes and hanging on for dear life. I exited the water dejected and physically spent. It took me more than half the bike to get refocused and concentrated.

After the race, I resolved to have a real plan that could thwart what I had done. I wanted to be angry with all those swimmers who literally hammered me, especially the guy who slammed my face. But, the reality was that all they did was swim. It was my fault that I got hurt.

So, here are a few ideas that I considered when devising the right plan for me in all the races that have followed that difficult first day.

1. Be honest: I probably didn't assess my own ability well enough. Even if I let the adrenaline of race morning get to me, I never should have been in the neighborhood with those better swimmers. I needed to be blatantly clear with how good I was. We all know deep down how good we are. Recognize it and make your decision about where to start based on the truth.

2. Start wide, not late: Some weaker swimmers let the pack go way ahead and then enter the water. It makes a lot of sense, but try starting wide instead. The good swimmers will work to be as straight as possible with the first buoy, so go out wide and find a comfortable space. Here you can get into the race immediately while staying out of the chaos.

3. Anticipate contact and trouble: No triathlon swim, unless you are the first guy out and swim like a dolphin, is free from contact. I have to remind myself that with each race comes a new set of bumps and knocks in the water. Mass starts have a ton of people swimming toward the same place, all of whom have their heads in the water, essentially blind, for 80% of the time. Basically, you're going to get hit. Anticipate it so that you don't lose your composure like I did.

4. You'll do it too: People aren't just going to hit you. You will hit them accidentally too, so be accepting and realize this. In that same race that I got knocked in the mouth, I also slapped a guy's ear and swam across another person's legs. It happens.

5. Draft: Unlike in the bike portion, drafting in swimming is fine. I try to get on someone's heels who swims my pace. This helps me stay straight, and it keeps me from banging bodies with too many others. This works really well if I happen to be racing with guys I know. We can kind of help navigate the course together.

6. Know it's mental: As physical as it all sounds, the challenge is in your head. You can handle the physical side of contact, but recovering from it is mental. Before getting in the water, take the time to walk yourself through potential scenarios so that you know how to manage them when they occur.

Overall, triathlon is a welcoming sport that is about personal accomplishment and inspiration. I try to keeps these ideas in mind before any race so that the experience is one I can remember and enjoy.