The scoop on open water swimming: Q&A with Ashley Twichell

With less than a month to go until the 2014 USA Swimming Open Water Nationals, we’re checking in with some of the national team to get their perspective on open water swimming.  Today we’re featuring Ashley Twichell.  Ashley has been on a good streak since returning back to North Carolina (she did her undergraduate studies at Duke and has several family in the area); she’s won the Tiburon Mile last fall and had big wins at the BHP race in Australia and the Midmar Mile in South Africa.

What’s the difference between pool nationals and open water nationals?

There tends to be a bit less stress and tension at Open Water Nationals compared to Pool Nationals. I believe this is due to a few different factors. First of all, since open water races last anywhere from 1 hour to 6 hours (5K to 25K), there typically are not as many nerves present right before the race; after all, there is plenty of time during the race to think, strategize, make moves, etc. In addition, races are often held at beautiful venues, and it is difficult to be extremely nervous when you are standing on a beach with the ocean in front of you. Lastly, I think it is the nature of open water swimmers to be a bit more easygoing. Given the unpredictability of the sport, the athletes have to be willing and ready to acclimate to sudden changes.

Do you think there’s a different bond amongst open water swimmers?

The open water community is extremely close-knit. There are a fewer number of athletes and staff on open water trips than pool trips, which allows everyone to get to know one another really well. I am extremely close with many of the other open water swimmers, which I find to be quite a blessing. While the other females are certainly my competitors when we are in the water, they are also my good friends out of the water, and I will cherish those relationships long after my swimming career is over.

Do you think open water swimming is changing?  If so, in what ways?

I think open water is continually getting more attention, which is a huge plus. Having Haley medal in London definitely helped put some of the spotlight on open water in the States, which is great. I also think more and more races are becoming spectator-friendly, which lends itself to more people becoming interested in the sport.

What are some of the songs on your “pump up” playlist?

I really don’t have any ‘go-to’ songs on my ‘pump-up playlist’. Rather, I just listen to music that puts me in a good mood before races, and also something that I don’t mind having stuck in my head for two straight hours!

Racing 5K, 10k, and 25K is intense. How do you stay motivated between races?

There’s no getting around the fact that open water races can be brutally long and exhausting both physically and mentally. I’ve found that the key for me to stay inspired and motivated between races is to limit the amount of 10Ks I compete in. This is necessary anyway due to my shoulder injury. I’ve competed in just two 10Ks since starting the season in September, and upcoming OW Nationals will be my third. This allows me time in between to get back into the groove of training, and mentally focused and excited for the next race.

Do you ever wish you were a sprinter?

I’ve always loved aerobic endurance work. Once I get into a rhythm with a certain pace, I can usually maintain it for quite a while. This is one of the reasons I really thrived out at Mission Viejo – and Coach Rose did a great job of pushing me to my limits, and getting me much stronger both physically and mentally. That being said, speed at the end of a 10K race is extremely important, as evidenced by the extremely close finishes between several girls at the majority of races. Since September, I’ve worked a lot more on my finishing speed, and feel much more confident in my ability to close a tight race. My coach, John Payne, has helped me tremendously with this. In addition, I train side-by-side with Chloe Sutton and she has amazing finishing speed to every repeat in every set, and this has helped me a lot as well.

What do you want people to know about open water swimming?

Open water swimming sometimes has the reputation of being boring and monotonous. However, this really isn’t the case, for either the athlete or the spectators. Your mind constantly has to be engaged throughout the race, with focus at an all-time high; not only do you have to be aware of the course, turns, changing currents, etc., but also what all of your competitors are doing. If one, or two, or three people make a move and gain a lead on the pack, you do not want to be left in the dust; rather, you have to be ready to counteract right away. In addition, open water races are becoming more and more spectator friendly. For example, in the recent Crippen Cup held at Miromar Lakes in Ft. Myers, FL., the course was eight 1.25 laps. Therefore, spectators were able to see the athletes every 15 minutes, for several minutes at a time. The venue was also extremely accommodating to the spectators, as it was held at a beach club with dining, a bar, and beautiful pools and beach cabanas. Lastly, as I mentioned before, these races often come down to a photo finish – any race that is ~2 hours coming down to a finish that tight is bound to be exciting! If you’ve never been to an open water race, I suggest checking one out!