Last week, I (Jen) explained how practice is key to overcoming open-water-swimming fears. This week, again with the help of Wendy Mader, a local elite triathlete and triathlon coach, I've put together a list of common issues with open water swimming and how to overcome and or deal with them.

The first issue is dealing with cold water. I will never forget my first spring triathlon in Colorado. The water could not have been more than 58 degrees. When I first put my face in the water, it took my breath away. There is no doubt that is a scary feeling. You can wear a wet suit in cold water swim. I also recommend a neoprene cap for water temperature less than 60 degrees.

Before any cold water race, you'll want to be sure to get in a really good swim warm-up. This is always important but even more important for a cold-water swim. If you really begin to panic once in the water, you can either switch to breaststroke and keep your head out of the water for a few minutes or flip over to your back. You can also just float for a minute and get your breathing back or actually do the backstroke.

For the complete newbies out there, drowning might be a real fear. First, master floating and treading water. Also, remember that there is no penalty for holding on to the kayaks or lifeguards as long as they don't help you make forward progress. There's even a personal flotation device that can be worn around the waist and inflated if the athlete feels they are in trouble. And if you do ever get into trouble while swimming, simply stop and raise your arm and a lifeguard will be there before you know it.

There's no doubt that the swim start can be brutal at the front of the pack. It's not uncommon to take a foot or elbow to the face or even have your goggles knocked off. Swim starts at pro races and extremely competitive events such as the Ironman tend to be rougher than local races. You can also stay completely out of the fray by simply starting at the back or side of the group.

You can also practice navigating crowded swim starts. Get a group together and emulate the swim start. Once you get used to the kicking and elbowing, you'll realize that it isn't really a big deal and you'll be able to swim right through it.

Swimming off course is another issue for a lot of athletes. Problems can stem from fogged up goggles or the sun in your eyes or even following a wayward swimmer in front of you. First, always sight for yourself. Before the race begins, I suggest having a good idea of where the buoys are located. If you can, identify other landmarks such as a dock or house that you can use to make sure you are generally progressing in the right direction.

Because of the early morning start of most races, it's likely that the sun will be directly in your eyes for part of the swim. I suggest wearing heavily tinted goggles. You'll also want to be sure to have a fresh coat of anti-fogging solution on your lenses. Also, practice clearing your goggles in the pool so that it's not a big deal on race day.

Another nice thing about open water swimming in Colorado is that you won't have to worry about sharks and gators.