At 53, Hilary Topper couldn't swim one length of the pool. About ten years later, she swam 8.2 miles around Mackinac Island. In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport welcomes Hilary back to talk about her new book, Unlocking the Open Water Swim, and how anyone can go from nervous to confident in the open water.

If the swim is the leg that holds you back, this one's for you.

In this episode:

• Why fear of open water stops so many people from trying triathlon, and how one swimmer went from panic to a fast mile
• Simple mental strategies to calm your nerves before and during a swim
• Fish, crabs, and the "creepy crawlies" (spoiler: they're not interested in you)
• Open water safety: swim buddies, tow buoys, bright caps, and knowing when to get out
• Cold water acclimation and the warning signs of SIPE
• Wetsuit styles, booties, and buoyancy shorts
• Why you swim slower in open water than in the pool
• Why a DNF doesn't define you
• Adventure swims, aquabike, and planning your first "swimcation"

Links:

• Unlocking the Open Water Swim by Hilary Topper: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local bookstore
• Hilary's blog: ATriathletesDiary.com
• Ep 114 How to Get Started in Triathlon: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/how-to-get-started-in-triathlon-with-author-hilary-topper/

Get the full episode here: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/open-water-swimming-for-beginners-hilary-topper

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