Signed up for my first triathlon, then realized that maybe I should start swimming so I can make it the 400M. I read that technique is more important than endurance, so I am working through the Total Immersion book to work on that. When I get out of the pool I usually fell a bit lightheaded and off kilter. Will this go away as I swim more or is it something that everyone experiences everytime?

Yes, it does get better. Take your time and kicking a little extra towards the end helps. Being horizontal reduces vascular pressure and when you stand up gravity takes over for a few seconds and blood supply to the head drops.

It may have something to do with your stoke.
Some beginner swimmers tend to swing their head, especially when they breath often (as in every other stroke) this could be the cause.
I've never felt dizzy getting out of the water, but then again swimming is kind of in my blood. It could also be a first time swimming thing, and your body might get used to it.

Either that or you are dehydrated.

Hope this helps

Peace
Tyler

Also make sure you are eating enough before, but not right before. I usually have a cliff shot a half hour before, or a balance bar 45 minutes before my swim workouts. I also keep a water bottle at the end of my lane to make sure I stay hydrated. Also, I agree to watch the head spinning, and make sure you only spin your head enough to raise one eye out of the water. And if you can, I know I can't, it is good to alternate sides to keep from getting a stiff neck.

Good luck to you.

-Marcus.

Sometimes i feel dizzy when i breath to my left side. I think it is because i swing my head faster on that side. Never a problem on my right.
Perhaps you are doing that as well - worth trying to move head slower.
Best of luck figuring it out.

I think tribob has it. It's not dizziness while swimming; it's right after standing up upon exiting the water. I almost fell over once on the beach in front of many people trying to get a PB on a sprint swim; very embarrasing. After a short walk to transition all was well and hammered the bike.

When I first started swimming I felt so dizzy I was almost nauseous after only going for a few minutes. I think it is probably because i (and now you) was not efficient enough with my oxygen. Now, as long as I am swimming regularly, I can go 20-30 minutes and feel fine when I am done. My sister, who is in much better shape than me (23 min 5ks) had the same problem. It should improve as you keep swimming.

For me it improved but only up to a point. Just take it easy running up the beach.

as other has said, you get used to it. Wait till you forget to pull your shoes out of your bag and you're dancing out of a wetsuit, looking for shoes, helmet covering your eye, all while your body gets used to being verticle. It must have been funny to watch

I agree with the posters who have said this is not unusual for when you stand up after being horizontal. It used to happen to me quite a lot....even when just standing up suddenly from getting out of bed. Seems like the more fit I was ... as measured by my resting heart rate .... the more frequently this would occur. Dunno why.

The real dizziness is when you bend down to put on your shoes. I once fell right over onto the bike rack. No damage to the bike and luckily no injury except to my pride. After that, I started using a 5-gal bucket. You use it to haul all your stuff to the TZ and turn it over to use as a seat for changing shoes.

It will pass with consistant training. When I have too long of a layoff I can feel lightheaded after any of the three. Once back in the routine it goes away or at least passes quickly.

Maybe you just have water in your ears, messing up your equalibrium. ??? Try the ear-dry stuff they sell at the drug store.

well, i started competitive swimming at 7 and still get dizzy during swim to bike. sorta like the bike to run leg heaviness, you just get used to it.

tip: anything and i mean ANYTHING in my stomach when i hit the bike will not stay down so i make sure to eat early enough that my tummy is empty. don't add nausea to the dizziness

Woa, I second that! I ate at 5 am for a 7 am race start, and I wasn't in the water until 8, so I ate a bagel at 7:30 because I was STARVING and had that low blood sugar feeling. Bad idea. It sat on my stomach all through the bike and run. I felt like I was a sack of potatoes. I stink on the run anyway, but I got massive side cramps and it was just no fun at all. I wish I would have thrown it up, but I have a steel stomach (unless I'm pregnant!)