Gary's Mentor Group - Re-OPENED for Training (Page 70)

Had a great time and finished strong! Of course a PB! 1:10:51 so I even shattered my goal of 1:15. Feeling good and a little pumped. I created a PR, but not sure how to access it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

David

Wow ... I got back home last night from a business trip to Shanghai, China all last week.  Man - what an interesting place ... I was totally surprised and impressed with Shanghai.  There is no way whatsoever that would I get on a road bike or even drive a car in that city ... I have never seen such traffic.  The crazy part is that even though there was so much traffic, with cars constantly weaving in and out, cutting people off, mopeds like bugs all over the place, horn blowing, et al, I never saw anyone mad, no one flipped off, no road rage or such.

The bad news is I totally blew the diet for the week and worse - had no time for training whatsoever.  The jet lag has not kicked in yet, so I'll try to get in a good swim, run or ride today.  But next week - it's on!

David ... wish you the best on your race.  Finish strong dude!!

ROB ... sounds like you are ready man.  Your times and speed are great.

Liz ... great news on the hip and especially the attitude.  Keep focusing on what you can do.

Had a great time and finished strong! Of course a PB! 1:10:51 so I even shattered my goal of 1:15. Feeling good and a little pumped. I created a PR, but not sure how to access it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

David

Had a great time and finished strong! Of course a PB! 1:10:51 so I even shattered my goal of 1:15. Feeling good and a little pumped. I created a PR, but not sure how to access it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

David

Awesome! Smile all weekend and brag on Monday (when asked what you did this weekend). 

Had a great time and finished strong! Of course a PB! 1:10:51 so I even shattered my goal of 1:15. Feeling good and a little pumped. I created a PR, but not sure how to access it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

David

Vets,

I know what the water temperature cutoff is for wetsuits, and all of the advantages of a wetsuit like buoyancy.  Putting that aside, what do you consider "too cold" to swim without a wetsuit?

I made a firm decision a while ago just to go without one for my first race in order to trim some expenses while still figuring out if this is something I'm going to do more than once.  Race is Sunday and I'm sort of freaking out now and doing all the typical second guessing.  I suppose if water temperature is my biggest fear right now that it means I feel good about my fitness level.  Looking at water temps of 69/70, at 8:30 am.  Likely be low 70's that time of day.  Manageable?  Or am I nucking futs?  And on a side note, I don't plan on being in there very long anyway!

Vets,

I know what the water temperature cutoff is for wetsuits, and all of the advantages of a wetsuit like buoyancy.  Putting that aside, what do you consider "too cold" to swim without a wetsuit?

I made a firm decision a while ago just to go without one for my first race in order to trim some expenses while still figuring out if this is something I'm going to do more than once.  Race is Sunday and I'm sort of freaking out now and doing all the typical second guessing.  I suppose if water temperature is my biggest fear right now that it means I feel good about my fitness level.  Looking at water temps of 69/70, at 8:30 am.  Likely be low 70's that time of day.  Manageable?  Or am I nucking futs?  And on a side note, I don't plan on being in there very long anyway!

Vets,

I know what the water temperature cutoff is for wetsuits, and all of the advantages of a wetsuit like buoyancy.  Putting that aside, what do you consider "too cold" to swim without a wetsuit?

I made a firm decision a while ago just to go without one for my first race in order to trim some expenses while still figuring out if this is something I'm going to do more than once.  Race is Sunday and I'm sort of freaking out now and doing all the typical second guessing.  I suppose if water temperature is my biggest fear right now that it means I feel good about my fitness level.  Looking at water temps of 69/70, at 8:30 am.  Likely be low 70's that time of day.  Manageable?  Or am I nucking futs?  And on a side note, I don't plan on being in there very long anyway!

Vets,

I know what the water temperature cutoff is for wetsuits, and all of the advantages of a wetsuit like buoyancy.  Putting that aside, what do you consider "too cold" to swim without a wetsuit?

I made a firm decision a while ago just to go without one for my first race in order to trim some expenses while still figuring out if this is something I'm going to do more than once.  Race is Sunday and I'm sort of freaking out now and doing all the typical second guessing.  I suppose if water temperature is my biggest fear right now that it means I feel good about my fitness level.  Looking at water temps of 69/70, at 8:30 am.  Likely be low 70's that time of day.  Manageable?  Or am I nucking futs?  And on a side note, I don't plan on being in there very long anyway!

I think you are okay in the 70's  below that its a "per person" type of thing.  I have done both sprint distance swims and an IM swim in 60's temp (IM at 62-63 and sprint at 65-66).  Both with wetsuits (although the sprint was with a sleeveless) but saw folks without them.  At the end of the IM swim there were people shivering and being put in the warm up tent (both with and without wetsuits).  Similar for the sprint. 

One tip that helped me.  Try putting some vaseline on your face and arms.  The thought is that it provides a bit of protection and helps reduce the initial shock.  Not sure if it really provided a barrior or if it was mental but I went with it.  The other tip would be to get in the water ahead of time.  I suspect once you start swimming you will warm up quickly.

Lastly, keep an eye out for used wetsuits in the $60-80 range as they do pop up.