I still remember my first open water start. Heart racing. Buoy looking impossibly far. The water below me dark and unknowable. Everything I’d learned in the safety of my pool lane suddenly felt like it belonged to a different sport.
If that sounds familiar, this post is for you. I wrote Unlocking the Open Water Swim: The Beginner’s Guide to Competing in Open Water Events for the athlete standing at the water’s edge, equal parts excited and terrified. In this article, I’ll share why I wrote it, exactly what you’ll learn, and how it can help you reach your first open water finish line with confidence.
The Problem: Open Water Feels Like a Different World
Pool swimming is comfortable. You have a wall every 25 meters. You can see the bottom. The lane line keeps you straight. Then you wade into a lake or ocean, and all of that disappears.
Most beginner triathletes and swimmers don’t lack fitness. They lack a roadmap for the open water itself. The fear isn’t irrational; it’s a signal that you’re missing specific skills and a plan to build them.
That gap is where races fall apart. Athletes who swim beautifully in the pool find themselves zigzagging, hyperventilating, or stopping to tread water within the first 200 meters. The good news? Every one of those problems is solvable.
Why I Wrote This Book
I wasn’t always an athlete. I laced up my running shoes for the first time at 48, then worked my way into triathlon and open water swimming. I’ve felt every doubt my readers feel, because I’ve lived them.
Over the years, I earned my certifications as a USA Triathlon Coach, USMS Level 3 Swim Coach, and WOWSA Open Water Swim Coach. More recently, I completed an 8.2-mile swim around Mackinac Island, a distance that once would have seemed impossible to the version of me clinging to that first start-line buoy.
I wrote this book with Paul Eaglestone, a swim mechanics specialist whose coaching helped shape Olympic gold medalist Alex Yee. Together, we created the guide I wish I’d had when I first traded the pool for the open water. It’s practical, it’s honest, and it’s built for beginners.
What You’ll Learn
This is a true step-by-step guide that takes you from the comfort of the pool to the start line of your first event. Here’s what we cover.
Gear That Actually Helps
You don’t need every gadget on the shelf. We break down the gear that makes a real difference, what to use in pool training, and what to bring on race day, so you spend smart and train smarter.
Stroke Technique for Efficiency
Drawing on Paul’s expertise in swim mechanics, you’ll learn how to move through the water with less effort and more power. Better technique means you conserve energy and finish stronger.
Pool-to-Open-Water Training
This is the heart of the book. You’ll learn how to use your pool sessions to prepare for open water, then bridge the gap with structured, confidence-building practice. No guessing, just a clear progression.
Sighting and Navigation
Swimming straight in open water is a skill, not an accident. We teach you how to sight efficiently and navigate a course, so you stop adding extra meters and start swimming the shortest line.
Race Day Preparation
From your warm-up to the start, transitions, and the finish, you’ll know exactly what to expect. When nothing catches you off guard, you can focus on performing.
Mental Strategies
Confidence is trainable. We share practical mental tools to quiet doubt, manage start-line nerves, and reframe the water as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
Real Stories From Real Swimmers
You’ll find inspiring stories from first-timers and seasoned competitors who started exactly where you are now. Their journeys prove that progress is possible, no matter where you begin.
Common Open Water Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Before you sign up for your next race, watch out for these:
- Skipping open water practice entirely. Pool fitness doesn’t fully transfer. Get into open water before race day.
- Ignoring sighting. Swimmers who never practice it often swim far more distance than the course requires.
- Going out too fast. Adrenaline plus a crowded start equals panic. Learn to settle into your rhythm.
- Wrong gear, wrong fit. An ill-fitting wetsuit or fogged goggles can derail your whole swim.
- Neglecting the mental side. Technique matters, but managing fear is what gets you to the start line in the first place.
The book tackles each of these head-on, so you arrive prepared.
Who This Book Is For
This guide is built for beginner triathletes eyeing their first race, pool swimmers ready for a new challenge, and any endurance athlete who feels nervous about open water. If you’re an elite open water competitor chasing marginal gains, you’ll find plenty of confirmation here, but the book is designed to meet you where the journey starts.
Quick Recap
Here’s what Unlocking the Open Water Swim gives you:
- A clear path from pool training to open water racing
- Gear guidance that saves you money and stress
- Technique tips to swim stronger and more efficiently
- Sighting and navigation skills to swim straight
- Race day prep so nothing surprises you
- Mental strategies to turn fear into focus
- Real stories to keep you motivated
Book Launch Party
On Tuesday, October 13 at 7 pm, I will hold a book launch celebration at the Barnes & Noble in Huntington (301 Walt Whitman Rd, Huntington Station, NY). This will be a great opportunity for me to meet fellow athletes and share some of my personal experiences with open water swimming. I’ll also be signing copies of the book and answering any questions you may have. Come join me in celebrating this milestone achievement!
Pre-Order Today
Unlocking the Open Water Swim publishes on October 1, 2026, and you can lock in your copy right now for $24.95. Whether you’re training for your first sprint triathlon or finally signing up for that open water event you’ve eyed for years, this book is here to help you get there.
Open water isn’t a barrier. It’s your next big opportunity. Let’s get you ready for the start line.
👉 Pre-order Unlocking the Open Water Swim on Amazon
See you in the water.