Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/842361
18 WAC Magazine | wac.net Train wisely for an open-water event by practicing in a lake or Puget Sound. u Open-water swimming Exercise of the Month Instructor Insights Meet the Athlete YO S E F C H A I M K A L I N K O ( 2 ) By Eric Williamson, WAC Masters Swim Coach & Personal Trainer Warmer weather and longer days mean the arrival of open-water swim season. Whether you're an experienced open-water swim- mer or new to the sport, you can benefit from the following tips. Hit the open water e best thing you can do to prepare yourself for an open-water event is to get into Lake Washington or Puget Sound and practice. e pool is great for conditioning, but it can't replicate open-water conditions. When you begin your open-water training, practice swimming in a straight line. It's easy to get off course without lane lines to guide you. Keep your stroke wide and avoid crossing over your midline when you extend your arms. is will prevent you from driing off course. Aim for a point in the distance and check that you're still heading in the right direction every 15–20 strokes by gently and quickly liing your chin out of the water. Put in your yards To prepare yourself for the physical challenge of open-water swimming, take advantage of the pool here at the Club. It's important that you spend time in the water building your cardiovascular endurance and fitness. Use the wall clock and fixed distance of the pool to practice a goal pace. If you are training for an event, calculate your desired com- pletion time and divide it by 25, 50, and 100. Use these numbers to pace yourself through the yardage of the pool. When you practice swimming at exactly your goal pace, you develop muscle memory that will help you during the hectic start of your event. Be ready for race day On the morning of your event, eat a light but calorie-rich breakfast, stretch, Go jump in a lake With summer arrives open-water swim season Living Fit