Just did a team triathlon 1K swim and was slower than my pool time. I think it screwed up my kick rythym and I had trouble with breathing. Maybe it was a bit too tight, but overall, I think I would have been better without.
I noticed the fastest swimmers had no wetsuits.
If you are only swimming and don't have to save the legs, do all agree that you should leave the wetsuit at home if the water temp is good?
I did alot of training in the pool for this event and I am really bummed that I wore it.
I have always heard that wetsuits provide little benefit to good swimmers but help beginner to intermediate swimmers.
I think anything over about 68 degrees and a wetsuit isn't needed.
I swam in an open water 1.2 mile race in mid May this year and the water was about 66 degrees. Most of the serious swimmers didn't wear wetsuits. Of course, all the tris wore them. The best female swimmer there did not wear a suit and the cold water definitely affected her swimming. She said she was cold the whole time. Personally, if I had a westsuit, looking back now, I would have worn one. With the water chilly, I didn't feel compelled to warm up adequately and therefore I was sore as crap the next day.
Another good swimmer that day wore one the first time and freaked out about the constriction about halfway through and had to come back to shore. I guess the morale of that story is to swim with a suit a few times before the race.
I have always heard that wetsuits provide little benefit to good swimmers but help beginner to intermediate swimmers.
I think anything over about 68 degrees and a wetsuit isn't needed.
I swam in an open water 1.2 mile race in mid May this year and the water was about 66 degrees. Most of the serious swimmers didn't wear wetsuits. Of course, all the tris wore them. The best female swimmer there did not wear a suit and the cold water definitely affected her swimming. She said she was cold the whole time. Personally, if I had a westsuit, looking back now, I would have worn one. With the water chilly, I didn't feel compelled to warm up adequately and therefore I was sore as crap the next day.
Another good swimmer that day wore one the first time and freaked out about the constriction about halfway through and had to come back to shore. I guess the morale of that story is to swim with a suit a few times before the race.
