Getting stuck in a crowded group, being trampled, and being hit by waves are common problems when competing in biathlon, but there are ways to deal with them if you know how to anticipate the situation, according to Lam Quang Nhat.
Triathlon champion Lam Quang Nhat participated in a sharing session, giving advice on how to handle situations when swimming in the ocean, ahead of DNSE Aquaman Vietnam. According to Nhat, ocean swimming is an interesting but challenging experience for both professional and amateur athletes. Competitions at sea depend on many factors such as waves, currents, weather, and the number of athletes, so there are many unpredictable situations, affecting the psychology and overall performance.
The most common problem is that amateur athletes have the mentality of swimming really fast, rushing forward together to form a large, dense group. At this time, the space for each athlete is limited, making it difficult to accelerate. When there are waves, swimmers often swim breaststroke to get through, accidentally colliding with and stepping on the swimmer behind. "This situation often happens and makes athletes panic. The most important thing is to stay calm, quickly adjust your helmet and goggles, and take deep breaths to keep your heart rate," Nhat said.
Triathlon champion Lam Quang Nhat interacted with Aquaman athlete on the morning of October 28. Photo: Hai Anh
When stuck in a crowded group, swimmers can separate themselves by slowing down a few paces, observing the open space and moving to an area with fewer people. Or from the beginning, swimmers can also avoid it by choosing a starting position separate from the group, avoiding the mentality of rushing forward, adjusting the speed to a moderate level.
The continuous strong waves also overwhelm many beginners. The continuous waves make it difficult for athletes to breathe and choke on water. According to the triathlon champion, this is a common occurrence. Similar to when caught in a large group, athletes need to stabilize their mentality, adjust their breathing, how to take a breath, and slow down.
Despite many difficult-to-control situations, Lam Quang Nhat believes that the more than 1,000 athletes participating in DNSE Aquaman Vietnam early on the morning of October 29 do not need to worry too much. The 1997-born triathlete had a test swim at Phan Thiet beach the day before the tournament and assessed the competition conditions as ideal, even for beginners. The sea at NovaWorld Phan Thiet has waves but not strong, and the weather is favorable. "I think this sea is among the most peaceful places I have swum before," Nhat said.
Furthermore, the plus point of the tournament is the safety and security of the swimming route. The 2023 national triathlon champion said that DNSE Aquaman Vietnam has the actual swimming distance as announced, without deviation. The rescue canoe and SUP move continuously. Every few dozen meters there will be a SUP. yellow buoy for orientation, a larger green triangle buoy to mark the turning point. "All athletes can see this green buoy, so they will be able to adjust the correct swimming direction, avoiding the phenomenon of "buying the road" (lost swimming) during the competition," he commented.
An athlete participates in a trial swim. Photo: Duc Dong
Quynh Giang - an amateur athlete participating in the first season, had heard many comments about Phan Thiet beach having big waves. However, after participating in the trial swim, she had the same assessment as Lam Quang Nhat. The sea did not have many challenges. On the contrary, the athlete's difficulty could come from the running path with many continuous ups and downs. Quynh Giang reminded athletes not to enter the race too quickly, and to distribute their strength evenly. "The most important thing is to listen to your body, stop when you are too tired, and prepare carefully with gel, salt, accessories such as glasses, hats, and sunscreen," Giang shared.
Quynh Giang started out as a runner, then practiced swimming and cycling. For her, swimming is an ideal supplementary sport for runners as it improves endurance, heart rate and helps muscles recover faster. Currently in Vietnam there are not many swimming and running competitions, so the athlete believes that DNSE Aquaman Vietnam is an ideal opportunity to get acquainted and gain experience.
Runner-up Thuy Tien and athlete Quynh Giang shared at the workshop. Photo: Hai Anh
Participating in the sharing session, Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 runner-up - Huynh Pham Thuy Tien said she was motivated and learned a lot of battle experience when listening to the sharing of veteran athletes. Thuy Tien is preparing to enter the relay event when she competes in the running part while a friend conquers the swimming course. Previously, the runner-up participated in many marathons. "I learned a lot about how to prepare and listen to my body. The goal is to complete the distance so there is not too much pressure. I want to enjoy every moment of the competition. Overcoming myself is already a success," she shared.
DNSE Aquaman Vietnam is the first swimming and running biathlon in Vietnam. Last year, the event took place in Tra Co, Mong Cai, Quang Ninh. This year, NovaWorld Phan Thiet is the destination. Awaiting 1,500 athletes are challenges in three different distances including Aquaman (2km swim, 21km run), Half Aqua (1km swim, 10km run), Sprint Aqua (500m swim, 5km run).
Hoai Phuong
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