I have my first ever open water swim coming up next month, the Alcatraz Sharkfest. It's not too long, about a mile and a half, but the water is pretty cold (60) and the currents are strong. I got a wetsuit for the swim, but am not going to be able to test it in salt water until the day before the swim.
As a 56 year old novice swimmer, I can't swim that far using continuous freestyle, so I thought I would alternate freestyle and breaststroke, doing maybe 70 - 80 strokes of free (equal to 200 meters in the pool), then 20 - 40 strokes of *** to rest.
I've read a few posts from people saying that they were unable to swim *** in a wetsuit because it made them too bouyant. But I've also read a couple of other posts referring to people alternating strokes just like I'm planning to do.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has some experience with this. If the breaststroke is not going to be workable, what other techniques do you use for resting in the open water?
Thanks.
Swimming in saltwater in a wetsuit will increase buoyancy and tend to elevate your butt. Depending on how you kick breaststroke today, this may cause your heels to rise out of the water when you bring them up (I would assume this is why you stated people saying that they were unable to swim *** in a wetsuit). You may need to lift your head a bit more during breathing to drop the hips to keep the kick underwater.
I’d suggest that you take your wetsuit to the pool and practice with it on; especially if it is a new wetsuit. You will want to see if it rubs you raw (any hot spots) and you’ll want to find these hot spots before you swim in a race.
And one further suggestion, since I see you are in Georgia, I’d recommend you swim the State Games Open Water on July 16th in Lake Lanier. We have a 1K, 3K and 5K race. Check out their web site gagames.kennesaw.edu/swimy.htm
Swimming in saltwater in a wetsuit will increase buoyancy and tend to elevate your butt. Depending on how you kick breaststroke today, this may cause your heels to rise out of the water when you bring them up (I would assume this is why you stated people saying that they were unable to swim *** in a wetsuit). You may need to lift your head a bit more during breathing to drop the hips to keep the kick underwater.
I’d suggest that you take your wetsuit to the pool and practice with it on; especially if it is a new wetsuit. You will want to see if it rubs you raw (any hot spots) and you’ll want to find these hot spots before you swim in a race.
And one further suggestion, since I see you are in Georgia, I’d recommend you swim the State Games Open Water on July 16th in Lake Lanier. We have a 1K, 3K and 5K race. Check out their web site gagames.kennesaw.edu/swimy.htm
