Finding Focus in the Open Water: Lessons from a Season at the Lake

This summer marked another incredible season of Open Water Swim practices at our local lake (Shenango) with our FLYT Performance local crew. Every week, athletes of all levels—veteran triathletes and brand-new swimmers we lovingly call “The Guppies" came together not just to swim, but to learn how to swim the right way in open water.

Because here’s the truth: too many people treat open water swims like a leisurely float. They swim slow, unfocused, and without intention. But if your goal is to race, improve, or simply feel confident, that approach will never get you where you want to go. Open water demands skills, awareness, and practice. That’s exactly what our sessions provided.

More Than Just a Swim

From the moment athletes arrived, they were welcomed by myself, Coach Stacy, and our “angel on the water,” lifeguard James. Safety was always priority number one, but skill development was a close second. Each week, we focused on specific elements of open water performance—mini-skills that, when added together, create confident, efficient swimmers.

Throughout the summer, our practices covered:

   •   Dynamic warm-ups tailored for open water

   •   Wetsuit mastery (putting it on, taking it off, and adjusting stroke mechanics)

   •   Beach starts, shallow water starts, and deep water starts

   •   Sighting and navigating currents

   •   Treading water and panic protocols

   •   Swim safety strategies

   •   Buoy turns, drafting, passing, and buddy swimming

   •   Swim exits, beach runs, and fueling techniques

   •   Mass starts and handling congestion

   •   Tempo trainer work for pacing

   •   Adapting stroke for warm water, wetsuit, and non-wetsuit swims

These weren’t just workouts—they were lessons in how to be adaptable, efficient, and race-ready in any condition.

Growth in Motion

One of the best parts of the season was watching athletes transform. We saw brand-new triathletes who could barely swim 50 yards at the start of summer go on to cross the entire lake at our grand finale. Those moments remind us that when practice is structured, safe, and intentional, progress is inevitable.

And along the way, we also shared the little joys: the smell of the lake lingering on the ride home, dodging tennis balls used in drills, the sudden splash of jumping fish, and sunsets that painted the water gold.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

I want to thank Coach Stacy for stepping up when I was recovering from surgery, and James for being a constant source of encouragement and reassurance on the water. And a special thanks goes to the Shenango River Lake Army Corps for allowing us the privilege to host these sessions each year.

The season may have wrapped, but the lessons remain. Swimming with focus, purpose, and skill in open water is a game-changer—and it’s something every athlete can benefit from.

If you’re ready to sharpen your swim skills, we’ve got virtual certified triathlon coaches, swim specialists, and local upcoming technique clinics to help you take that next step. Until then, here’s to concluding a summer of growth, community, and flying forward together.

Coach Amy Javens is the owner and coach of FLYT Performance. She started out as a busy mother and wife and professional in the sport. She became fully committed to the sport as a professional triathlete with personal bests of the 9:25 and 4:26 in the full and half IM. She has been a coach for 35 years and is a  leader in the endurance coaching industry. She enjoys helping busy triahletes excel at endurance sports.