Open water swim races can be exhilarating and fulfilling. They can also end up being the complete opposite of what you were expecting.
Morgan shared her experience when a very important race didn’t go at all how she wanted. In 200, she participated in US Olympic trials for open water swimming. Thirty swimmers raced the 10K, with the top ten moving on to the international Olympic trials.
“Halfway through the race I was falling farther and farther behind everyone,” says Morgan. “I wasn’t sure what to do. Do I get out or keep going?” She ended up giving it her all and finishing the race dead last. “I got a round of applause, which I appreciate, but at the same time, I didn’t want that attention.”
Every athlete is going to face disappointment at some point in time on their swim journey. Here are some ways to manage the experience and move forward.
Feel all the feelings
After Morgan finished the Olympic trail race, she sat down and cried. “It was such a hard moment,” she says. “I had to sit with the uncomfortableness of it, but I was also trying to appreciate my accomplishment.”
Of course it’s normal to feel sad and disappointed – but allow yourself to feel pride as well. Don’t discount the time, dedication and effort you put in to show up that day and try your best.
Learn from it
Once your event is over, it can be helpful to think about various aspects of the race to figure out what you did well and where improvements can be made. How was your energy level and mental state throughout the swim? How did your form feel? Were you happy with your race strategy? You just might discover something you can use to train differently or race better next time.
“That type of race was not my favorite,” says Morgan of the Olympic trial. “It was a flat, calm rowing course, and it was two hours of swimming.” She learned that she’s better swimming in harsher water conditions – chop and waves – and longer races. “There’re so many different types of open water swims out there,” says Morgan, “The competitive Olympic elite race is a part of me, but there are other races that I love just as much and can excel.”
Find the joy
Morgan says she likes competing because it makes her a better swimmer, but she makes sure to balance it out with fun. “As a coach, I love seeing where open water swimming is going and how there are so many different ways it can be a part of your life,” she adds. Besides traditional races, people have started exploring vacation open water swims, ice swimming and sleep deprivation swims.