Gotta Love those Tri Athletes

I raced triathlon for many years, and while I loved the personal sense of achievement, as a swimmer, I always felt that it was not really about that particular portion of the event. If it were, the Ironman swim distance would be at least five miles--much more equitable given the distances of the bike and run. It's funny that someone mentions the barbs thrown by swimmers, and how triathletes are very welcoming. I've found the world of open water swimming much more welcoming, much more about sharing the incredible experiences we have out there. I do a race in St. Croix every year where the emphasis is much more on what we've all seen and how incredible it has been, rather than who came in when. Turtles, sea rays, starfish--that's what ends up being important. Personally, and I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I didn't find that to be the case in the same way in triathlon, especially as it grew over the years. I'm speaking big picture of course, not specific people because of course i met some great ones. I recall a lot of machismo and gear comparison that is definitely not there when it's just us, on a beach, in our speedos. I'm not saying I wouldn't do triathlon again, because there is a big part of me that still misses it. But I find the community of swimmers particularly welcoming in a way I had not experienced before. This is especially true with open water swimmers, since there are so few of us and our races are so far between. But perhaps it's also because everyone knows I am absolutely no threat to anyone when I take to the water...They can all afford to be nice to me!

As a triathlete, I am amused by the smug attitude many posters have towards triathletes and wetsuits here. Yes, a lot of triathletes go overboard with the wetsuits, some because they're weaker swimmers and some because they think practicing with a wetsuit will give them an edge and help them swim faster in races. It's a cultural thing: the swimming culture eschews wetsuits because they aren't legal and the triathlon culture embraces them. The triathlon culture eschews drafting (mostly) and the cycling culture embraces it. It doesn't mean anyone is wrong, just different. Does a lot of the bashing comes from an inferiority complex: you could kill most of them in a straight swim, but they're better rounded and can probably take you on the land? I don't know. In my experience, triathletes tend to be very accepting of newbies, whether they're swimmers, runners, cyclists, or none of the above. (FWIW, I've done swims of up to a mile in 63 degree water with no wetsuit. While I survived, it wasn't exactly fun. I logged 19 summers as an ocean lifeguard on the New Jersey shore.) I agree that triathletes tend to be very accepting of newbies as I experienced a warm welcome when I started doing triathlons 8 years ago. I do think, however, that both swimmers and triathletes tend to beat up on each other because of the quirks of each particular sport, not because of some inferiority complex. I think swimmers may get frustrated with triathletes because of "the little knowledge is a dangerous thing " issue. In my coaching experience, I have found that once some triathletes attend a TI clinic, they are quick to think they are as knowledgeable as somebody that has swam competitively for years. This can be frustrating when you are a coach making suggestions about drills to correct stroke flaws. Otherwise, I have found triathletes to be a pretty good bunch. I should add that swimmers often make the best triathletes. If you look at the women the US sent to the Olympics, you will find that their primary athletic background before doing triathlons was competitive swimming. I believe swimmers have a huge advantage on triathlons because the swim for us is just a warmup for the main event - the bike and run. Non-swimmers tend to be spent after the swim and don't have the bike legs they could if they weren't so spent from the swim. I think swimmers don't like it when wetsuits are used because then we lose our advantage - the non-swimmers are not as spent from the swim and thus have more energy for the bike and run.

As a triathlete, I am amused by the smug attitude many posters have towards triathletes and wetsuits here. Yes, a lot of triathletes go overboard with the wetsuits, some because they're weaker swimmers and some because they think practicing with a wetsuit will give them an edge and help them swim faster in races. It's a cultural thing: the swimming culture eschews wetsuits because they aren't legal and the triathlon culture embraces them. The triathlon culture eschews drafting (mostly) and the cycling culture embraces it. It doesn't mean anyone is wrong, just different. Does a lot of the bashing comes from an inferiority complex: you could kill most of them in a straight swim, but they're better rounded and can probably take you on the land? I don't know. In my experience, triathletes tend to be very accepting of newbies, whether they're swimmers, runners, cyclists, or none of the above. (FWIW, I've done swims of up to a mile in 63 degree water with no wetsuit. While I survived, it wasn't exactly fun. I logged 19 summers as an ocean lifeguard on the New Jersey shore.)

i participated in about a dozen triathlons in the early to mid 80's. neither wetsuits nor aero bars were standard tri accessories yet. i think the issue many swimmers have with triathlons is that many events go out of there way to make the swim portions friendly to non-swimmers. yeah, i know....the safety thing, but i swim with people who train to push their physical limitations and water temperature is just one obstacle.

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

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 That is an excellent point! I love doing open-water swims, but they are few and far between in most parts of the country, whereas you could do a tri every weekend (if you were made of money). For whatever reason, tris are a lot more popular.

i participated in about a dozen triathlons in the early to mid 80's. neither wetsuits nor aero bars were standard tri accessories yet. i think the issue many swimmers have with triathlons is that many events go out of there way to make the swim portions friendly to non-swimmers. yeah, i know....the safety thing, but i swim with people who train to push their physical limitations and water temperature is just one obstacle. In Colorado they have recently begun to run a series called the Aquaman, a swim/bike biathlon. Swimming is my first sport however I've been an avid cyclist for years and have many century rides under my belt. So I was thinking of doing a half iron distance that was coming up a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile ride. But then I thought about a little more and I asked myself why spend the time and hassle of a transition and interrupt an early start to nice bike ride with a swim that's barely a warm-up.

Ok let's take a step back. I love open water swimming and people who are involved in the sport, but frankly the worst violation of open water rules and custom was in an USMS 5K open water race. I was drafting behind someone and when someone was coming up on my left I picked up my pace using the wake of the swimmer in front of me to sling shot me past her and stay with the passing swimmer. I admit I did touch her feet a few times over the previous 100 yds. but it was purely incidental contact. I made NO other physical contact with her. As I passed her she intentionally ran her nails down my back and then grabbed my suit. This is a clear violation of USMS Open Water Rule 303.8.1 & 303.8.10 which is a manditory disqualification. Because this swim was under USMS rules (versus the anything goes in many open water swims) I did not retaliate. Frankly it was also because she was a woman. In any other situation she would have gotten a strong kick to her shoulder.So I gave her a loud & strong verbal warning and then dusted her. What was remarkable is that she sat down 5 feet away and started complaining to friend that someone got too pushy so she intentionally scratched him and tried to pull down his suit. I don't think that happened to 2 people in the same race. Clearly she did not know the rules, her statement would have been an automatic disqualification if brought to the meet director's attention. But I said nothing, she was just was an inexperienced open water swimmer that should stay in the pool. My point is that not all open water swimmers play by the rules, and the occasional one (as some triatheletes) is a jerk who should stay out of the sport.

she intentionally ran her nails down my back and then grabbed my suit. this sounds like a race i should look into.

Outside of the normal (if misguided) human tribal reaction of saying "my side is better," I can't ignore that my experience with tri-athletes seems to have beem much more negative than my experiences with OWSs. I've shown up at OWS events to have wet-suited triathletes (who are using an OWS to get prepare for a longer event) elbow and push unnecessarily to start at the front only to be completely in my way within seconds while I watch OWSs seem to naturally sort themselves in speed order to avoid too much jostling. I've also been at mixed events where the OWS event is on a Sat, and the Tri on a Sun, only to have the Tri's show up on Sat. and bogart around the course, attempting to swim warm-ups nearby with an OWS race going on, etc. But then when I think about it some more, there are tri-athletes who train at the same pool as me who are completely pleasant, and we share lanes without incident. Ironic to this conversation, one tri-athlete who I see at the pool was recently trying to get used to a wet-suit for the first time and found it annoying. And I've certainly encountered some jerks at OWS events loudly assessing their competition and showing little sportsmanship. I think some of this perception may have to do with sheer numbers. If 10% of TRIs and OWSs are jerks, by averages, one will encounter more jerks who are TRIs when Tri entries are in the thousands and OWS entries rarely reach over 100.