SWBKRUN fast, furious, and closed (Page 56)

Like William, I have mixed emotions about this.  The added buoyancy of a wetsuit is very helpful and I am pretty sure all of my swims would be slower without the suit.  But be careful to make sure it is fitted properly.  My first suit was pretty good for the first few seasons, but then either I got a little wider from all the pool swimming or my suit shrank, because my shoulders were soooo restricted and I would start to feel like I couldn't breathe after the first 500 yards at my first few races last year, I ended up buying a sleeveless and selling my old one.  The sleeveless was much better for me in terms of not getting tired, but then I feel like maybe the loss of the sleeves made me less buoyant!!!  So, I am going to see how the sleeveless goes this season and stick with it.  

Bottom line, if you rent a suit, which I think is really smart, make sure you have a chance to practice in it a few times.  Are you racing locally?  Maybe you can rent one to do some open water practice in advance of the race.  Some places will let you apply the rental fee to a purchase if you decide you want to buy a suit later.   

It's been a long time since I swam, and even longer in a wetsuit, but I would warn you that when you first swim in it you will feel suffocated, and arms tire quickly.  Spend an extra few minutes really making sure you are pulling the wetsuit ALL THE WAY UP.... If you do not it is going to be like swim with arm resistance bands. 

BUT YES A WETSUIT SAVES YOU TIME AND ENERGY DURING ANY SWIM!  Where you can lose time is taking it off in transition!  This is where John can come into play.  The master of transition times!

Being that Sunday was my 1st time swimming in a wetsuit(rented as well) I am going to go with number 2! My swim still sucked and it may be different if you are a good swimmer but for a bad swimmer its not going to make things waaay easier. Also after my race the only thing that was sore the next day were my shoulders which i assume is from the wetsuit. So I agree with Steve make sure its pulled all the way up, and have someone help pull it up even more, you want the most flexibility in your shoulders.

Hopefully you have a better experience that I did

Pulling it up means pulling WAY up! It should be tight in the crotch. Why? To maximize the fit around your shoulders. For a sleeveless wetsuit you shoulb be able to get two fingers under the sleeves.

Also always get in the water wearing your suit and swim a little before the race. The suit will expand when wet and the fit will improve. If you don't then the start of the swim will feel realy tough and take a lot out of you. This might nulify the benefits of wearing the suit.

This is the key for me. I want to spend as little energy as possible on the swim and the wetsuit definitely helps with that!

I can rent it for a week :-)  for only $30.  This would give me a chance to practice in it some!

Totally agree with the above.  If I feel a little like I'm giving myself a wedgie before I pull up the rest of the torso and sleeves, I know I've done it right....burping it will also allow the water to get in and get rid of that suffocating feeling (well sort of!).

If Fatty weren't in the pool right now, I am sure we would all get a lecture on why we shouldn't use a wetsuit....so prepare yourself....it'll be coming shortly.

And yes Fatty, I said the word SHORT with my name attached to it.

like this...   (no resizing on purpose :-)  )

good point.   for starters, don't stand around sipping water yapping at strangers about what your hair looks like... edit--->> cute little butt side shot!!!

Yes it is, but what is hanking, is that Canadian for hiking or yanking.  or the perfect combination!  you are so smaaaaaattt, Trevor! 

Here is a video from IOS on wetsuits. It is short and to the point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0kSi8foQj4

Uhm, excuse me, but note the distended belly.  Don't you remember I was the one in the water for 52 minutes swallowing a buttload of salt water?  I'm not a fish, I'm a Minnow.  I needed a little H20 to clear my mouth and a little chat to make me feel better about my horrific time!!!!  Be nice, skinny taper boy.

PS. Thanks for the butt comment.  At least you like something about my triathlon prowess!

Marathon pictures are up....including me ready to pass out at the fihish!  I'm number 4883

http://www.marathonfoto.com/index.cfm?action=site.login

edit: apparently you need my last name, too....Nollette

Wow!  I'm learning a lot from this mg :-)

1) get a pedicure

2) stay away from John, he might have his camera

3) sift carefully through the information, 'cause a lot of it is b.s.

Winner, Winner ...............  Chicken Dinner!!!     

Great pics, Linda!  I love how you are smiling even coming up that huge honking hill and the one of the two ladies trying to figure out how their camera works, trying to take a picture near the piano man is funny.  C'mon people, it's a race!!! 

And...did you box that woman out near the start???  You know, the one with the oversized t-shirt, I know you were smiling but you wanted to cut in front of her, didn't you!?

I like ?the phot of you running down hill the best. Those are some well-defined legs there!

And we tend to dwell on the BS more than the substance. Sometimes some parts of the MG thread feel like people are speaking Swahili to me as I do not know the origin of the discussion or the inuendo. ANd I have been here for awhile. I just move on down the thread.

Peeing in it helps speed this process (98.6-degree water infusion!!). However, never pee in a rental...

You're right.  There is a lot of good information mixed in with the b.s., and it's been really helpful.  Can you seriously stop swimming and just float for a bit?  That sounds AWESOME.  I'm not scheduled for my first tri until June 25th, but I'm thinking about signing up for a really small local tri on May 21st.  (note:  haven't registered yet.  still debating) Thought it would be a good chance to get this "first tri" thing over with.   But, the water is still really cold, so the wetsuit rental would be necessary.  Let me see if I got this all straight. . .

1.  Work my body into the skin tight wetsuit that feels way too small.  Remembering that you will only feel like you're going to pass out from the constriction. 

2.  Give it a few extra tugs until it is practically up my a$$.  (cute a$$ if we're talking about suzy)

3.  Make sure there is plenty of room at the shoulders

4.  Get the wetsuit wet (only pee in it if you own it)

5.  Work some of the water in between the wetsuit and your skin ("burp" it)

6.  Swim like a dolphin!!!!!

Honestly, I don't know why anybody would be nervous about their first tri!!!

Jayne, it sounds like fun doesn't it?!! It will be!

I love the pics of Suzy, they are great! She look like a strong triathlete

Linda, your smile is absolutely wonderful, thanks for sharing! You rock!