There’s a saying in business: “You’re either at the table or on the menu.” Open water swimming, it turns out, follows the same rule.

As someone who entered triathlon later in life—38, overweight, and fueled less by intention than by IPA—I quickly learned that chaos thrives in open water. Unlike the predictability of a pool, open water is primal. Arms flailing, elbows crashing, zero lanes to define your space. It's not a question of how strong your freestyle is; it's about whether you have the mindset to own your space... or get swallowed by someone else’s.

That's why Damien Wildes' philosophy on open water swimming resonated so deeply with me. A seasoned coach based in Ireland, Damien runs Flow State Swimming, where he trains open water athletes—from beginners to podium chasers—on how to dominate, not just survive, the swim.

1. 🧭 Tactics Are More Valuable Than Technique Alone

You wouldn’t rush into a business deal without doing due diligence—so why dive into an open water race without reviewing the course? Damien insists that understanding the course layout, turn buoys, currents, and group dynamics gives you a strategic edge. Positioning early for a turn can mean the difference between clean water and a drowning-by-crowd moment.

In my early racing days, I underestimated this. I once got caught inside on a sharp buoy turn and practically did a 360 before escaping the washing machine of limbs. Lesson learned.

2. 💪 Don’t Be a Passenger — Swim Assertively

“What separates strong swimmers from great ones is not just physical strength—it’s assertiveness,” Damien says. Aggression in the water isn’t about being careless, it’s about owning your line. Your pace, your position, your decisions. Stop reacting. Start dictating.

In life, like in triathlon, if you let the environment control your outcome, you’ll find yourself bobbing behind someone else’s wake in more ways than one.

3. 🔄 Balance Propulsion With Glide

Most late-in-life swimmers (like me) focus too much on propulsion—thrashing harder, pulling more water, muscling through each stroke. Damien reframes this. “Streamlining is just as, if not more, important than propelling,” he says.

Think of it like riding your bike with underinflated tires—or worse, dragging the brakes. Technique without efficiency is wasted energy, and if you’re aiming for success in triathlon, you’ll need to treat every calorie as currency—spending wisely matters.

4. ⏱️ Master the Art of Suffering (with Purpose)

Most intro swimmers fear the discomfort of open water. What Damien promotes instead is getting comfortable with the suffering. Not masochism—awareness. Through demanding training sets (his “hell set” being the most notorious), swimmers learn to dial in their effort, find their red zone, and recognize their breaking point before race day forces them there unexpectedly.

I still remember my first open water race. The initial few minutes felt like panic-speed laundry cycling. But the truth is, your ceiling is closer than you think—unless you intentionally raise it.

5. 🚫 Ditch the Dependence on Devices

In an age of data worship, Damien’s rule to occasionally leave devices out of swim workouts might seem counterintuitive. But he makes a strong case: “Watches measure pace. You need to measure feel.”

That lines up with my own experience. Some of my best swim breakthroughs happened not when I was chasing a number, but when I was deeply paying attention to my form, rhythm, breath, and tactile feel for the water.

The Bigger Picture 🖼️

In many ways, Damien’s coaching principles aren’t just about swimming; they’re about mindset. About choosing to be intentional, tactical, and unafraid of discomfort—which sounds a lot like what’s required for success in life, triathlon, or any pursuit that matters.

So the next time you enter the water, whether you’re eyeing an age-group podium or just trying to not DNF, remember: You don’t need to be the fastest swimmer—you need to be the most focused, aggressive, and tactically prepared.

And above all, have the courage to let go of your gadgets—and listen to the water instead.

🔑 Key Takeaways Recap

• 🏊♂️ Tactics Matter: Know the terrain—turns, currents, and group dynamics.
• 💪 Swim Assertively: Dictate your race, don't just survive it.
• 🔄 Balance: Glide is as crucial as propulsion when chasing efficiency.
• ⏱️ Welcome Suffering: Strategic discomfort in training builds resilience.
• 🚫 Feel the Water: Less Garmin, more awareness—learn to pace intuitively.