Just had to share: Last nite went to a local lake that I swim in occassionally. Smaller lake, 730 yards from one end to the other (GPS is great). As I was getting ready to go, a local Tri-guy was finishing his swim. I noticed that he was wearing a wet suit. Water temperature was about 81 degrees! I say," isn't it a little warm for a wet suit?" (I would be smothering), he says "Well, there are a couple of cold patches out there!" (probably gets down all the way to 80 degrees for 30 seconds) LOL.
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I am a swimmer who does triathlons. 2 years ago I did a sprint tri with an indoor swim and an olympic with a lake swim just to see what they were all about. They were fun and the people were friendly. I went back to them this summer. My first one was Escape from Alcatraz, and yes I bought and wore a wetsuit for the race. It is true you are much faster, at least after you get used to bobbing up and down in the water like a cork. I finished it and am proud that I did. Would I tell anyone "I swam from Alcatraz" - no. It just was too easy with a wetsuit.
When I am training for triathlons my swimming is only passable as a swimmer. However I was 150 out of 1600 swimming at Alcatraz and a fractured scapula prevented my from doing any swimming, running or cycling until 5 weeks before the event. At a recent Sprint triathlon I came in second in my age group and was 3 out of 249 overall in the swim. Does that make me a fast swimmer - not in my mind. Does that make me a great triathlete NO WAY. I think I am just good in my age group (55-59) who likes to be outdoors racing. There are far more triathlon races than there are open water swims in this area and that is part of why I do it. Funny part it has renewed my interested in swimming, something I left years ago
I am a swimmer who does triathlons. 2 years ago I did a sprint tri with an indoor swim and an olympic with a lake swim just to see what they were all about. They were fun and the people were friendly. I went back to them this summer. My first one was Escape from Alcatraz, and yes I bought and wore a wetsuit for the race. It is true you are much faster, at least after you get used to bobbing up and down in the water like a cork. I finished it and am proud that I did. Would I tell anyone "I swam from Alcatraz" - no. It just was too easy with a wetsuit.
When I am training for triathlons my swimming is only passable as a swimmer. However I was 150 out of 1600 swimming at Alcatraz and a fractured scapula prevented my from doing any swimming, running or cycling until 5 weeks before the event. At a recent Sprint triathlon I came in second in my age group and was 3 out of 249 overall in the swim. Does that make me a fast swimmer - not in my mind. Does that make me a great triathlete NO WAY. I think I am just good in my age group (55-59) who likes to be outdoors racing. There are far more triathlon races than there are open water swims in this area and that is part of why I do it. Funny part it has renewed my interested in swimming, something I left years ago
