7. Take a break if you need
“It’s OK to, on occasion, flip on your back and enjoy some of the scenery during your open-water swims,” Marsh says, especially if this is new for you. Also, if you swallow water, relax, slow down, and collect yourself while treading water for a few seconds, he says. It’s common to feel panicked if you can’t get your breathing right at first—especially if you’re competing in a long-distance race for the first time. You want your strokes and pace to be controlled, so take time to reset yourself if things become a bit erratic.
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