Hi Im new

Hi Julie,  Welcome to BT and just to let you know 50 is not old in triathlons.  I'm a member of a mentor group for the "Gray Guys and Gals" (50 and up).  You should definitely join a mentor group whether you look at our older group or go for a beginner oriented group.  Actually we have a Scottish fellow in our group that is riding the "etape Loch Ness" in April so he might have some good local tips for you.

Breaststroke will get you through a sprint no problem and don't worry about only swimming a length of freestyle (front crawl) just now.  It takes time but it will come.  I started swimming in January 2012 and I could only swim 50m then hung on to the wall huffing and puffing for several minutes to catch my breath.  Now I have much more endurance.  More importantly - are you comfortable in the water?  If yes it is a great advantage for you.  I swim 3 times per week and mostly 4 times.  Don't swim less and find a group to swim with.

I'm not familiar with the Wildman Tri in Florida but I'm pretty certain the water there would be a lot warmer than the lakes in yours or my areas.  I tried doing a search of the Wildman to find race reports and I didn't find any but there might be more to the name.  Go to their website and/or search here in BT for race reports the website should tell you everything but the race reports give you insight and inspiration.  Locally here in Penticton in July our lake water temp is in the seventies and wetsuits aren't allowed in shorter races because it is too warm and we're a lot further north than Florida.

I just looked at the Wildman website and even though the race is in March it should be a lot warmer than Loch Ness.  Of course, I can't guarantee it.  Definitely do some open water swimming in the lake when you get there to get oriented (check with locals) and whatever you do don't listen to your brain that will try very hard to convince you this is crazy and you can't do it.  Your brain is lying to you.  You can do it.  Just go as fast as you can but take time to learn all you can so that your next race is even better.  I swam my very first race (sprint) doing a very slow breastroke in 21 minutes.  Then finished the bike and run.  Two weeks later I did my second sprint and swam it in 17 minutes.

This is fun.  Have fun first.  And, now I am sorry for being so verbose.