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Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD?
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 2009-07-13 11:11 AM |
 Alpharetta, Georgia |  Subject: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD?I'm doing an Aquathlon in a few weeks - Swim 750m, Run 3.5m, Swim 750m. The web site says water temps will be in the low 70s and wetsuits are allowed. I emailed the RD to ask what to expect when it came to wetsuits on the second swim portion and what participants have done in the past. Obviously putting it on for the first swim is no biggie, but I can't imagine trying to put the wetsuit back on in T2 after a 3.5 mile run. His response: Hi Lisa - That’s totally up to you - - we see participants doing later swims both with and without wetsuits. I agree – putting your wetsuit on when you are sweaty might be a slow process. Options are A) put wetsuit back on in T2, adding an unknown amount of time and frustration, but benefit on the swim B) skip the wetsuit for the second swim and risk the effects of cold water and less boyancy. WWBTD? |
| 2009-07-13 11:13 AM in reply to: #2281079 |
| Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? 750 yds x 2 in 70+ degree water. I suppose I'd wear it for the first swim skip it for the second. It's going to take forever to get on properly, nullifying any time savings due to buoyancy. Also, everyone is different, but 70+ is pretty warm |
| 2009-07-13 11:19 AM in reply to: #2281079 |
Elite  7783     PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? I've tried putting on my wetsuit while wet and I'm pretty sure it would take me a lot longer to get it on properly than any gain I might get from wearing it. |
| 2009-07-13 11:22 AM in reply to: #2281093 |
Master 2491 | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? ChrisM - 2009-07-13 12:13 PM 750 yds x 2 in 70+ degree water. I suppose I'd wear it for the first swim skip it for the second. It's going to take forever to get on properly, nullifying any time savings due to buoyancy. Also, everyone is different, but 70+ is pretty warm x2 |
| 2009-07-13 12:18 PM in reply to: #2281093 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? ChrisM - 2009-07-13 11:13 AM 750 yds x 2 in 70+ degree water. I suppose I'd wear it for the first swim skip it for the second. It's going to take forever to get on properly, nullifying any time savings due to buoyancy. Also, everyone is different, but 70+ is pretty warm ditto -- ish I would give it a practice before hand, using the plastic bag trick to see if it could be done. but with the wet suite I have the issue is my zipper is a break away and I need someone to at least get it started... |
| 2009-07-13 1:09 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
| 1072 | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? With the water 70+ and the swims that short I would skip the wetsuit all together for both swims. HTFU. |
| 2009-07-13 2:21 PM in reply to: #2281540 |
| Alpharetta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? browncd - 2009-07-13 1:09 PM With the water 70+ and the swims that short I would skip the wetsuit all together for both swims. HTFU. Why would I skip it for the first swim if it makes me go faster and I don't loose time putting it on before the race? It's not about HTFU it's about free speed... |
| 2009-07-13 2:25 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
Extreme Veteran 745 Colo Springs, CO | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? |
| 2009-07-13 2:58 PM in reply to: #2281815 |
| Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? lisac957 - 2009-07-13 12:21 PM browncd - 2009-07-13 1:09 PM With the water 70+ and the swims that short I would skip the wetsuit all together for both swims. HTFU. Why would I skip it for the first swim if it makes me go faster and I don't loose time putting it on before the race? It's not about HTFU it's about free speed... Exactly, not many people should need to wear one in 70 degree water, but that first swim has nothing to do with HTFU. It's free speed. As for the plastic bag idea, yeah, might help, but getting it on the right way is more than just getting it on over the arms and legs (in fact most of the getting it on properly stuff is after it's on your arms/legs) |
| 2009-07-13 3:01 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
Champion 8936 | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? |
| 2009-07-13 3:16 PM in reply to: #2281937 |
Champion 11641 Fairport, NY | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? DerekL - 2009-07-13 4:01 PM Put it on in T1 and take it off in T2. And send us the pictures for the site banner... As to what I'd do, there is a similar race in my area soon that I'm considering doing as a training race. If I do the race, I'll either wear the wetsuit for the first swim or not at all. I can't imagine trying to put on a wetsuit properly that's already soaking wet after I've done two legs of a race. That video would be comedy gold. |
| 2009-07-13 3:56 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
Champion 8766 Evergreen, Colorado | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. But if you really want to wear it...only for the first swim. |
| 2009-07-13 3:59 PM in reply to: #2282136 |
| Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 1:56 PM Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. hmmm, shouldn't take more than 5 seconds to take off a wetsuit, if that. I will certainly gain 5 seconds on a nearly half mile swim over someone without a wetsuit. No to mention I will come out having worked a bit less to maintain my buoyancy and a bit warmer (even tho 70 is warm, it's still way below normal body temp) |
| 2009-07-13 4:04 PM in reply to: #2282144 |
Champion 8766 Evergreen, Colorado | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? ChrisM - 2009-07-13 3:59 PM jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 1:56 PM Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. hmmm, shouldn't take more than 5 seconds to take off a wetsuit, if that. I will certainly gain 5 seconds on a nearly half mile swim over someone without a wetsuit. No to mention I will come out having worked a bit less to maintain my buoyancy and a bit warmer (even tho 70 is warm, it's still way below normal body temp) Taking off a wetsuit takes longer than 5 seconds. |
| 2009-07-13 4:06 PM in reply to: #2282161 |
| Alpharetta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 4:04 PM ChrisM - 2009-07-13 3:59 PM jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 1:56 PM Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. hmmm, shouldn't take more than 5 seconds to take off a wetsuit, if that. I will certainly gain 5 seconds on a nearly half mile swim over someone without a wetsuit. No to mention I will come out having worked a bit less to maintain my buoyancy and a bit warmer (even tho 70 is warm, it's still way below normal body temp) Taking off a wetsuit takes longer than 5 seconds. Yeah that is my other dilemma I guess. Probably takes me 10-15 seconds to strip it off. Maybe I can work at getting that faster between now and then. |
| 2009-07-13 4:08 PM in reply to: #2281093 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? ChrisM - 2009-07-13 9:13 AM 750 yds x 2 in 70+ degree water. I suppose I'd wear it for the first swim skip it for the second. It's going to take forever to get on properly, nullifying any time savings due to buoyancy. Also, everyone is different, but 70+ is pretty warm I agree 100%. With on the first, without on the second. 72 degrees would feel good after a hard run... |
| 2009-07-13 4:10 PM in reply to: #2282144 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? ChrisM - 2009-07-13 1:59 PM jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 1:56 PM Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. hmmm, shouldn't take more than 5 seconds to take off a wetsuit, if that. I will certainly gain 5 seconds on a nearly half mile swim over someone without a wetsuit. No to mention I will come out having worked a bit less to maintain my buoyancy and a bit warmer (even tho 70 is warm, it's still way below normal body temp) I know it takes me more than 5 secs... BUT, I save about 10" per 100. So that equates to about 75 seconds of time savings with the suit and I know I can take it off under that. So somewhere between 5" and 75" is an advantage for me!!! In all reality, if the swim is 500 yards or more, I wear it. If there is a race with less, I might not just because of the hastle of bringing it to the race in the first place. |
| 2009-07-13 4:12 PM in reply to: #2282166 |
Champion 10020 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? You might try practising it. Go to a lake and get your suit good and wet. Toss it over a railing and go for a run. The suit will drip dry some during the run, so if possible I would wait the entire time that I plan to run. But make sure you're returning from a run, hot and sweaty, before trying to put it on. I've participated in a tri relay situation where we did continuous sprints for a set duration. Two of my 3 person team had to put their wetsuit back on again, but they had some time to wriggle with it. I have attempted putting my suit on in the water (during an OWS practice) to see if being wet actually helped. It didn't help, but it wasn't terrible. I was totally wet to start. All that said, assuming the difference is your swimming isn't so bad without the wet suit I would skip it the 2nd time. Edited by BikerGrrrl 2009-07-13 4:14 PM |
| 2009-07-13 4:19 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
Champion 8766 Evergreen, Colorado | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? I can't really put a number on how much I save per 100m wearing a wetsuit...just too many open water factors to really say. But I doubt it's 10" per 100m...at least for me. I couldn't imagine saving more than about a minute on a 750m swim. But I really would bet that if some of y'all timed how long it took you to get out of your wetsuit it's going to be closer to 30-60". Granted, you can do part of that on the run to transition, but not all of it. I still say it's going to be a wash. |
| 2009-07-13 4:21 PM in reply to: #2282161 |
| Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 2:04 PM ChrisM - 2009-07-13 3:59 PM jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 1:56 PM Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. hmmm, shouldn't take more than 5 seconds to take off a wetsuit, if that. I will certainly gain 5 seconds on a nearly half mile swim over someone without a wetsuit. No to mention I will come out having worked a bit less to maintain my buoyancy and a bit warmer (even tho 70 is warm, it's still way below normal body temp) Taking off a wetsuit takes longer than 5 seconds. Not for everyone, never been my experience. But everyone is different. Kinda hard to make a blanket statement like that and have it be accurate  ETA - there are ways to practice it to get it off faster. Maybe mike needs to post a new vid, and I've timed it, nowwhere near 30-60 seconds. Running to T1 the top is off. At my bike I push down the waist to my ankles/shins, step out of one leg, step out of the other. As I am doing this I am also putting on my helmet. If it takes someone a minute to take off their wetsuit they just need to practice more, IMO. But I encourage all those in my AG to not wear a wetsuit ETA 2-0 this isn't directed at anyone, it's simply relating my experience. Edited by ChrisM 2009-07-13 4:25 PM |
| 2009-07-13 4:28 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? If you don't wear it on the first swim.. you're giving up time If you wear it on the 2nd swim.. you're giving up time. Seems like a easy choice to me. Wear it on the first, not the 2nd. And guys.. If it's taking you more then 10 seconds to take your wetsuit off, something is going wrong. Edited by smilford 2009-07-13 4:30 PM |
| 2009-07-13 5:21 PM in reply to: #2282218 |
Pro 6520 Bellingham, WA | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? smilford - 2009-07-13 4:28 PM Seems like a easy choice to me. Wear it on the first, not the 2nd. And guys.. If it's taking you more then 10 seconds to take your wetsuit off, something is going wrong. x 2. No way would I try to put on a wetsuit under those circumstances. It may take 10 - 20 seconds to take a wetsuit off but it takes way more than that to put one on properly. If you do not put it on properly you could be in for a horrible 2nd swim. |
| 2009-07-13 5:45 PM in reply to: #2282136 |
Champion 5782 Northridge, California | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? jldicarlo - 2009-07-13 1:56 PM Personally I wouldn't wear it AT ALL...I would think that the time required to take it off after the first swim would be less than the time it would actually SAVE you on a short 750m swim. Anything over 70 isn't cold. ...and if you thought that, you'd likely be wrong. Unless the OP is going to take more than a minute to remove the wetsuit, there will be a time savings. Estimates (and actual measurements, for that matter) of time saved by wetsuit are typically 8-15 seconds per 100m...anywhere from 1 min. to 1:50 in this scenario. |
| 2009-07-13 7:58 PM in reply to: #2281079 |
Champion 5529 Nashville, TN | Subject: RE: Swim-Run-Swim race and wetsuit. WWBTD? The third race of the Triple T is a bike, swim, run leg. The water temps were low 60s so a wetsuit was needed. It can be done. I don't really recall having too much trouble getting into it and I used a plastic bag. My T2 time was 2:30 which was about 15" faster than the average time for the day. I would assume that you would dry out a bit on the run. The question is that if it takes you an extra minute to put the suit ON in t2, will it give you enough speed to make up the difference. That is roughly 10" per 100 for the race. That is asking for a lot of free speed on a short course. Another thing to be aware of is that you body might reject hitting the water again. At Triple T there was TONS of cramping (though we had all race that morning too). I know I was really disoriented hitting the water after cycling. Think about how you sometimes feel coming out of the water and running to T1. Now picture yourself feeling that way and entering the water. |
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