Plan B: What to Do When Things Don’t Go to Plan
Having the presence of mind—and the practical tools—to adapt on the fly is what separates a good swim from a great one.
Hey Swimmers,
We all love a perfectly executed race—smooth start, consistent pacing, strong finish. But in reality, open water swims rarely go to plan. Whether it’s aggressive pack dynamics, missed feeds, changing conditions, or a personal mishap, every swim throws up unexpected challenges.
In just over 2 weeks I'm racing the Dart 10k in the UK...twice!
I'll race the Dart 10k on the Saturday in "skins" (which I've had to apply for special permission to do on account of the water temperature likely being 13 to 15 degrees celcius), and on Sunday, I'll wear a wetsuit and see which is fastest. I've predicted a differential of one minute per kilometer in favour of the wetsuit. See the video below:
Racing two swims like this gives me a back-to-back chance to get things right on at least one of the swims, but when you don't have that, you often need to know how to execute a Plan B.
I’m delighted to once again support Level Water UK this year, hosts of the Dart 10k. By donating to Level Water you’ll be helping to fund 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities across the UK. I’m immensely proud to be part of a collective effort that harnesses the power of swimming to foster physical development, confidence, and independence in young lives.
Thanks for your consideration - it means a lot.
So, having the presence of mind—and the practical tools—to adapt on the fly is what separates a good swim from a great one. Today, we’ll walk through some of the most common race-day problems and offer mindset strategies and tactical responses to keep you on track.
7 Common Mid-Race Setbacks (and How to Handle Them)
1. You Feel Like You’ve Been Swimming Forever
Your arms ache, your head drops, and the finish still feels miles away.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Break it down. I never think of a marathon swim as 20km—it’s 40 x 500m blocks. Swim to the next feed. Then the next buoy. Then the next breath. Chunk the distance into manageable wins and just keep going.
2. Someone’s Being Aggressive in the Water
You’ve been hit, swum over, or boxed in. It feels unnecessary.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Don’t waste energy on retaliation. Instead, tuck in behind them, draft, and recover. Then—when the time is right—use your energy to surge past cleanly. Let your swim do the talking.
3. You’re Squeezed Off Your Line
Approaching a turn buoy or finish chute and another swimmer is cutting across.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Hold strong. Maintain your line assertively without escalating. Most swimmers back off when they realise they’re wasting energy. Be composed and confident.
4. You and Another Swimmer Want the Same Draft
You're both aiming to sit on the same swimmer’s hip or feet.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Third position actually saves more energy than second. Sit tight, bide your time, and plan a slingshot move in the final stages.
5. You Get Stung by a Jellyfish
Ouch. Not what you needed.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Channel Shelley Taylor-Smith. She used to visualise jellyfish stings as “kisses” or motivational boosts. It sounds quirky, but reframing discomfort can give you a surprising mental edge.
6. You Went Out Too Fast
You're only halfway through and already fading.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Settle. Reset. Don’t panic. Swim at a pace you can hold. Focus on relaxed technique and efficient exhalation. It’s not over—just refocus.
7. You’re Feeling Cold
Your arms are stiff, your core is dropping, and you can’t stop shivering.
🧠 Plan B strategy: Signal your crew and ask for a warm feed at your next stop. Then, increase your stroke rate slightly for 30–60 seconds to generate heat. Visualise warmth, stay focused, and don’t dawdle during feeds—this is where heat loss really spikes.
When Things Go Wrong Before You Even Start
Sometimes, Plan B begins before you get in the water. You’ve had a disrupted taper, training hasn’t gone to plan, or life got in the way.
🧠 Plan B mindset:
Focus on what you have done, not what you haven’t.
Remind yourself of your consistency, not just your peak sessions.
Let go of comparisons and swim your race.
Real-World Examples: Reframing the Race
🏝 Rottnest Channel Swim 2014
At the 1500m mark, my support boat missed me. I was in podium position. The water police stopped me until they arrived—10 minutes lost, podium gone. But I reframed the race. I made it about mental composure and pacing. I finished 11th overall with a 12-minute PB.
🇫🇷 English Channel Swim
I’d trained for a sub-9 hour crossing, but the only available swim window was rough. Lyndon Dunsbee said, “If you make it, 12–13 hours will be a great swim.” I adjusted expectations and swam to the conditions. I finished in 12:14—exhausted, but proud.
🗽 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim 2013
Water temperatures were the coldest in the event’s history. I reframed it as an advantage—I’d trained in colder. I dived in first, staked my ground, and set the tone. That confidence carried me through to the win.
🧠 Mindset Makes the Swim
In open water, the unpredictable is part of the challenge. But so is how you respond. Have your Plan A, sure—but always carry a Plan B, and even a C. Flexibility, self-awareness, and composure will win you more races (and personal battles) than raw fitness alone.
Next week, we’ll shift focus to how to finish strongly, with race finish strategies to help you come home faster and prouder than ever.
Until then, enjoy your swimming! Your Coach, Paul.
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