In the sport of triathlon, there is no question which sport most people have problems with. Out of swimming, cycling and running, the swim causes people the most problems by far. Whether it is terrible form, anxiety in the water, or poor upper body strength, any weakness in the swim is multiplied three-fold. If you have poor running form, you can still get by; even more so with cycling. If you are a terrible swimmer, this will cause you to fight against the resistance of the water much more than you have to. It is not uncommon to see super athletes that knock out marathons with ease unable to swim two laps in the pool without stopping.
Besides getting some swim coaching to help correct your form, there may be something else you can do that will make the difference between quitting half way through the swim, or finishing strong with energy to spare for the next two events of the race.
If you are a poor swimmer or a beginner to triathlon, listen to this…You MUST get a wetsuit if you plan on racing. A good wetsuit will allow full range of motion in the shoulders, chest, and legs while providing maximum buoyancy. When you float higher in the water, you will go faster and save energy, period.
So now you know you need a wetsuit, but what type, what brand, when should you wear it, and how much should you spend?
The USAT guidelines state that everyone may wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is 78 degrees or below. You are welcome to wear a wetsuit if the temperature is 79 degrees to 84 degrees but you won’t be eligible for awards. Anything 85 degrees or over, no wetsuits are allowed.
Therefore, if the water is 78 or below, wear a wetsuit – even a short sprint distance race. You will be much quicker in a wetsuit and save energy. Of course, you also have to deal with taking it off in transition-1 to the bike, but if you’re well practiced, you’ll more than make up for the additional time in transition.
For those that aren’t strong swimmers, wetsuits can (and should) give you more confidence. Have you ever tried swimming underwater in your wetsuit? If not, try it sometime. You’ll pop back up like a cork! This is great for someone that has a fear of drowning.
Second, make sure you have a triathlon wetsuit. It’s amusing to see people wearing their body boarding, surfing or even their SCUBA wetsuits. These aren’t made for our sport. So don’t rummage through the garage to find your old surf wetsuit, that won’t work. These are much too thick and will limit your mobility and speed in the water.
Third, it really doesn’t matter what brand you get. The main concern is whether it fits or not. You can spend all the money in the world on the best wetsuit, but if it doesn’t fit correctly, it will slow you down. It should be snug but shouldn’t limit your breathing or choke you around the neck. Too loose and water will get in and slow you down. If you try one brand and it doesn’t fit just right, try another. With so many choices you’ll find one that fits.
Fourth, I like the full-arms style of wetsuits. I used to have a long-john style, which means it had full-length legs, but no sleeves. I thought the long sleeves would limit my stroke, but they don’t. In fact, according to the manufacturer (Quintana Roo), the long sleeves actually help you go faster because it increases the water your arm “catches” as you pull through. It’s really up to you which kind you get. Just try some out and see what you like best.
Finally, triathlon is a very mental sport. If that carbon fiber frame makes you think you’re going faster, you do. If your new running shoes make you think you’re going faster, you do. And if your wetsuit makes you think you’re going faster, you do.
Besides getting some swim coaching to help correct your form, there may be something else you can do that will make the difference between quitting half way through the swim, or finishing strong with energy to spare for the next two events of the race.
If you are a poor swimmer or a beginner to triathlon, listen to this…You MUST get a wetsuit if you plan on racing. A good wetsuit will allow full range of motion in the shoulders, chest, and legs while providing maximum buoyancy. When you float higher in the water, you will go faster and save energy, period.
So now you know you need a wetsuit, but what type, what brand, when should you wear it, and how much should you spend?
The USAT guidelines state that everyone may wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is 78 degrees or below. You are welcome to wear a wetsuit if the temperature is 79 degrees to 84 degrees but you won’t be eligible for awards. Anything 85 degrees or over, no wetsuits are allowed.
Therefore, if the water is 78 or below, wear a wetsuit – even a short sprint distance race. You will be much quicker in a wetsuit and save energy. Of course, you also have to deal with taking it off in transition-1 to the bike, but if you’re well practiced, you’ll more than make up for the additional time in transition.
For those that aren’t strong swimmers, wetsuits can (and should) give you more confidence. Have you ever tried swimming underwater in your wetsuit? If not, try it sometime. You’ll pop back up like a cork! This is great for someone that has a fear of drowning.
Second, make sure you have a triathlon wetsuit. It’s amusing to see people wearing their body boarding, surfing or even their SCUBA wetsuits. These aren’t made for our sport. So don’t rummage through the garage to find your old surf wetsuit, that won’t work. These are much too thick and will limit your mobility and speed in the water.
Third, it really doesn’t matter what brand you get. The main concern is whether it fits or not. You can spend all the money in the world on the best wetsuit, but if it doesn’t fit correctly, it will slow you down. It should be snug but shouldn’t limit your breathing or choke you around the neck. Too loose and water will get in and slow you down. If you try one brand and it doesn’t fit just right, try another. With so many choices you’ll find one that fits.
Fourth, I like the full-arms style of wetsuits. I used to have a long-john style, which means it had full-length legs, but no sleeves. I thought the long sleeves would limit my stroke, but they don’t. In fact, according to the manufacturer (Quintana Roo), the long sleeves actually help you go faster because it increases the water your arm “catches” as you pull through. It’s really up to you which kind you get. Just try some out and see what you like best.
Finally, triathlon is a very mental sport. If that carbon fiber frame makes you think you’re going faster, you do. If your new running shoes make you think you’re going faster, you do. And if your wetsuit makes you think you’re going faster, you do.
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