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.
Parents
Former Member
I swam 4 SFO Bay events total. Water temps were 55 deg's to 63 deg's....Unless you HAVE to wear a wet suit....swim as a purest....Sans wet suit....After 5 minutes you will get used to it. Used A&D Ointment under your arms and around your neck to keep from getting salt water abrasion.....(suspended salt in the water acts like sand paper after 15-20 minutes).
Unless you have a health issue, I sincerely do not think you need a wet suit for that swim. Both years I swam the SFO Bay, 80 to 90% of the swimmers wore wet suits. Every non wet suit swimmer said they were glad they swam as purists.
One very strong word of advise; the race organizer suggested non wet swimmers wait on the ferry boat until ALL the wet suit swimmers we off the boat, then we were to hop off and swim to the starting grid. The idea was, you will not have to linger in the cold water waiting for everyone to hop off the ferry boat. Problem was, (BOTH YEARS) they blew the ferry boat horn to start the race before 1/5 of the non wet suit swimmers were off the boat. The second year I swam Alcatraz I got in the water and onto the starting grid with the first swimmers lining up. I was glad I did because they started the race again before 1/5 if the non wet suit swimmers were off the boat. Again, get in the water as fast as possible to get a good starting position on the grid.
Good luck and enjoy this wonderful experience.
Reply
Former Member
I swam 4 SFO Bay events total. Water temps were 55 deg's to 63 deg's....Unless you HAVE to wear a wet suit....swim as a purest....Sans wet suit....After 5 minutes you will get used to it. Used A&D Ointment under your arms and around your neck to keep from getting salt water abrasion.....(suspended salt in the water acts like sand paper after 15-20 minutes).
Unless you have a health issue, I sincerely do not think you need a wet suit for that swim. Both years I swam the SFO Bay, 80 to 90% of the swimmers wore wet suits. Every non wet suit swimmer said they were glad they swam as purists.
One very strong word of advise; the race organizer suggested non wet swimmers wait on the ferry boat until ALL the wet suit swimmers we off the boat, then we were to hop off and swim to the starting grid. The idea was, you will not have to linger in the cold water waiting for everyone to hop off the ferry boat. Problem was, (BOTH YEARS) they blew the ferry boat horn to start the race before 1/5 of the non wet suit swimmers were off the boat. The second year I swam Alcatraz I got in the water and onto the starting grid with the first swimmers lining up. I was glad I did because they started the race again before 1/5 if the non wet suit swimmers were off the boat. Again, get in the water as fast as possible to get a good starting position on the grid.
Good luck and enjoy this wonderful experience.
