Frequent Questions

Open water adds variables the pool doesn’t have — no lane lines, no walls, no black line to follow, plus waves, currents, temperature, and visibility changes. You must learn:

• Sighting (lifting your eyes to navigate)
• Swimming straight without visual guides
• Managing pace without wall push-offs
• Adapting to conditions
• For triathletes, you also need pack swimming and drafting skills.

Fear is completely normal — especially for beginners. We work progressively:

• Start in shallow water
• Practice floating and breathing control
• Build comfort before distance
• Swim with a group and safety support

The biggest breakthrough usually comes from controlled exposure and learning that you can stop, float, and recover anytime.

It depends on water temperature and your goals.

• Cold water (<18°C)
  A wetsuit is highly recommended.
• Triathlon racing
  Often required below certain temps.
• Performance advantage
  Wetsuits increase buoyancy and reduce drag.

However, some athletes train without one to improve body position and strength.

The key is minimal lift:

• Lift eyes just enough to see forward
• Keep hips high
• Combine sighting with your breath when possible

For beginners:

• 1 open water session per week is ideal during the season.

For triathletes / Ironman athletes:

• 1–2 open water sessions weekly closer to race day.
• Pool work remains essential for technique and fitness.
• The pool builds engine and technique. Open water builds skill and confidence.

• Slow down.
• Roll onto your back if needed.
• Focus on long exhales.
• Reset your breathing.
• Restart gradually.

We train panic management in practice so it’s familiar on race day. The goal is control, not speed, in those moments.

For long-distance triathlons like those under the Ironman^® World Championship format you’ll need:

• Aerobic endurance
• Efficient, relaxed technique
• Pacing discipline
• Drafting skills
• Most athletes benefit from:
• 3–4 swims per week
• One endurance session
• One threshold/interval session
• One technique-focused session
• Regular open water practice in race season

Consistency matters more than occasional big sessions.

Common causes:

• Uneven stroke
• Poor sighting
• Breathing only to one side

We fix this through:

• Bilateral breathing drills
• Stroke symmetry work
• Practicing sighting every 6–10 strokes
• Swimming toward fixed landmarks

In most triathlons, swim drafting is legal and highly beneficial.

Benefits:

• Saves 10–30% energy
• Improves swim time
• Lowers heart rate before the bike

We practice:

• Swimming on feet
• Swimming on hip
• Managing contact calmly

For competitive amateurs, drafting is a major performance advantage.

You’re ready when:

• You can swim the race distance continuously
• You can manage race anxiety
• You understand sighting and pacing
• You can handle minor contact

For beginners, that might mean a local 750m triathlon. For advanced athletes, stepping up toward Ironman^® distance is about endurance progression and smart build cycles.

• You will need to complete my SwimMate health questionnaire, providing all medical conditions, and provide next of kin details at least 3 days before our coaching session. Should I have any questions I can ask you before you arrive?
• You will need to pay to swim at Box End Park and sign a once-a-season activity waiver before you arrive or on the day, which takes less than 30 seconds to complete https://waiver.roller.app/BoxEndPark/home
• You will also be required to bring to lake-side all medication, prescription goggles etc all your details are kept in strictest confidence and never shared.
• To reserve your coaching slot with Mark, you need to pay in advance, and then I will confirm our coaching session together.
• In the unlikely event you cannot attend our coaching session together, unless I can fill your slot, then I am sorry I am unable to refund your coaching fee.