Countdown to Ötillö: 4 Months Out

Welcome to episode 331 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!

Four months out from the 20th anniversary of Ötillö, the Swimrun World Championship, and we are leaving no stone unturned. The physical training is building nicely. Chris just finished the London Marathon in 3:37 and downing 90 grams of carbs per hour, and Chipper has been stacking consistent weeks. Orcas Swimrun is at the end of the month. The build is very much on.

This episode is about training the thing most people ignore until it is too late — the mind. We brought back Dr. Erin Ayala, sports psychologist and host of the Feisty Women's Performance Podcast, who joined us last year right after Ötillö to help us process the other side of the mountain. This time we asked her to come back four months out and answer the harder question — how do you actually prepare mentally for a race like this before you get there?

Here is what we covered. If there is one thing you take from this episode, Dr. Erin says it is mindfulness and meditation — and she has the numbers to back it up. The effect size for consistent mindfulness practice on sports performance is 1.35 standard deviations, which puts it well above most physical interventions. Three times a week, five to ten minutes at a time, is enough to start. Her top free recommendation is the Healthy Minds app out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which removes all decision fatigue and walks you through a structured user journey.

On visualization — the number one mistake people make is visualizing success. What actually works is visualizing reality. The anxiety at the start line, the chaos of a mass start swim, the moment three quarters through a long run when you want to walk. You plan for those moments, visualize your response to them, and on race day it is easier to execute because you have already been there. For Ötillö specifically, that means the jellyfish at the first swim, the cold water on your face, the sighting into the sun, the sharp rocks coming out of the water. Make it vivid and make it real.

On team psychology — communication is everything. Dr. Erin walks through the pre-race conversations every swimrun team should have, including what you each need on race morning, transition quirks, how you want to be supported when things get hard, and what your partner's body language looks like when they are struggling. The hive mind Chip and Chris describe at their best races is a skill you build, not something that just happens.

On navigating the noise — the athletes and coaches worth following are the ones who say it depends, who are willing to be wrong, and who are not selling you a system. Major in the boring. Consistency with hydration, nutrition, sleep, and strength training is 95 percent of the work. Everything else is optional.

Follow Dr. Erin at @scattisportspsychology on Instagram and check out the Feisty Women's Performance Podcast.

Enjoy!

That's it for this week's show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that's the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon...if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for listening and see you out there! Chip and Chris