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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Wet suit for a training swim?

trijedi

Jul 3, 09 9:40

Post #1 of 7 (327 views)

Wet suit for a training swim?	Can't Post

My A race for the year is an Oly in early October. It has an ocean swim as does a sprint tri I am doing. For the past two years, I have done a 2 mile ocean swim in August that doesn't allow wet suits. I am signed up for that event again in 4 weeks.

Tomorrow, I plan to do a 2 mile ocean swim with a group of triathletes and swimmers. This will be my first ocean swim of the year.

Should I wear a wet suit? West coast ocean temps are in the mid 60s.

On the positive side, it will give me a chance to practice with it since I usually only wear it in races (3 times a year). On the other hand, it might help me suffer less in the event that doesn't allow them.

tri jedi

(This post was edited by trijedi on Jul 3, 09 9:41)

torrey

Jul 3, 09 10:11

Post #2 of 7 (301 views)

Re: Wet suit for a training swim? [trijedi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are you doing the Pier to Pier in the South Bay? I always want to do that race, but I always have a conflict. This year I am doing Vineman on the same day.

I would definitely go without the wetsuit for this weekend. The water is plenty warm in the mid 60s. It is actually warmer than the air temperature right now. You really want to get used to swimming open water without the suit to get ready for the 2 mile swim.

I have 4 open water swims left before my next race and only plan on doing the last two in the wetsuit to get used to swimming in it again. If your Oly isn't until October, then you don't need to swim in the wetsuit until September and any practice now won't make that much of a difference this far out. If you weren't doing the no-wetsuit race, then I wouldn't recommend one way or the other.

skavoovie

Jul 3, 09 10:12

Post #3 of 7 (301 views)

Re: Wet suit for a training swim? [trijedi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My opinion is to avoid wearing the wetsuit anytime you can. Open water swimming is just way more fun without one.

trijedi

Jul 3, 09 19:56

Post #4 of 7 (230 views)

Re: Wet suit for a training swim? [torrey] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, I am doing the Dwight Crum Hermosa to Manhattan Beach 2 mile swim in early August. I first did it back in 1989 and then again the last two years.

Training for this swim definitely gets me ready for my late summer / early fall open water Oly tri swims.

____________
Are you doing the Pier to Pier in the South Bay? I always want to do that race, but I always have a conflict. This year I am doing Vineman on the same day.

SBRW

Jul 3, 09 20:09

Post #5 of 7 (221 views)

Re: Wet suit for a training swim? [trijedi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I always train in the wetsuit. It's the best way to prepare for the race. Swimming in the suit is so very different than swimming without it; for example, if I don't train in one, then I have a hard time swimming in a straight line when I wear one in a race. So, train the way you race.

trijedi

Jul 4, 09 16:29

Post #6 of 7 (159 views)

Re: Wet suit for a training swim? [trijedi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

OK, I told myself - just HTFU and get in without the wetsuit. The water took my breath away but it came back. The water felt like ice. The surf cut. My face renumbed after every breath.

Finally, I got out, went back to the car, put on the wetsuit, and swam some more.

I later found out that the water temp was 60. If it is not warmer next month, I am in for some icy pain.

Longboarder

Jul 4, 09 19:21

Post #7 of 7 (123 views)

Re: Wet suit for a training swim? [trijedi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The water temp today in Huntington Beach is 55. I swam in Newport Thurs and it was also 55. Full suit time for me.

Train safe & smart

Bob

"Then the thought came back- f^*k you, keep moving. The little train that could, could. I'm moving forward again." Doug Stern

(This post was edited by Longboarder on Jul 4, 09 19:24)