7.Habit: Keep your arm from crossing over. One of most common bad habits I see in swimmers is arm crossing over to opposite side on pull. Breathing on your left side results in your right arm crossing over, breathing on your left side results in your right arm crossing. Often times this happens when one goes to breath, but sometimes it's caused just from over-rotating. To avoid this, make sure your head isn't moving with rest of your body, and try to pull more in a straight line (still bending elbow) and ending pull on same side you started (i.e. right hand slices into water, pulls back and hand ends up near right hip).

8.Keep Feel. If swimming is your toughest sport, it is important to "keep feel" for water, and get in water at least every other day (no, showers and baths don't count!) This way, your body maintains its kinesthetic awareness of being balanced in water.

9.Work Those Lungs. Mix in some hypoxic training sets into your workouts. For example, do a set of 4x100's breathing every 3-5-7-9 strokes by 25, with 15 seconds rest in between each 100. Your lungs will thank you for it towards end of swim part of your race!

10.Work Your Weakness. In sport of triathlon, most coaches agree that you should spend most time working on your weakest of three sports. For many of you this will be swimming! Within swimming, same concept applies. Spend most time working on weakest part of your stroke. If balancing on your side is an issue, do some kicking drills on your side. If moving your head is a problem, focus on head position most of time. Whatever it is, you will gain most by spending your pool time improving on that weakness.

3. On sunny days, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before getting in (especially for those with light skin!).

4. Be careful of fog. It is easy to get lost in foggy weather and lose sight of shore.

5. Watch seaweed. If you are ocean swimming and come across seaweed, stay high in water and do not kick. The seaweed can wrap around you if your legs are kicking.

6. Never swim in a lightning storm.

7. Open water swimming can cause chaffing. Use petroleum jelly if this is a problem.

8. Goggle color. Use dark lenses on sunny days, blue lenses on cloudy days.

Open water swimming can be challenging, but for many it is FUN and a nice change from "following black line" at bottom of pool. Enjoy, and remember, "when in doubt, get out."