OK, I admit that I'm not that tough when it comes to cold water, but would love some advice. I'm doing a splash 'n dash this weekend in Tempe -- 1500M swim and a 3KM run. The current water temp is 71 and the air temp during the time of the swim will likely be around 65. Most of the people in the race will be triathletes, so I'm assuming they'll be wearing wetsuits. I'm mainly doing the race as a warmup for a 2.4 mile swim in the same lake the following week.
It seems a waste of time to put on a wetsuit only to have to strip it off for a 3KM run ... especially as I'm not a triathlete and therefore not experienced in transitions. Two questions:
Am I being a wimp to think that 71 degrees is too cold to swim without one?
Am I putting myself at a significant disadvantage vs. the wetsuit-clad triathletes to not wear one?
Based on your statement it sounds like your using this as test run for a later race, are you planning on wearing a wetsuit for that race? If so, by all means wear one for this race. Get used to it. If not then go without.
I'm not sure what I'm going to wear in the 2.4m swim race a week later. Again, that race will mostly be populated by triathletes getting ready for Ironman AZ, so I assume all of them will be wetsuit bound. However, it's sanctioned by both USMS and USAT and I suspect a lot of swimmers will be there. All of my open water swimming thus far has been summer-time based and warm (e.g., LaJolla, Sandpoint, etc.) where a wetsuit was never needed or allowed (LJRWS).
I definitely want to be competitive in the 2.4m swim. If the air temps stay like they have been for another week, the water temp should still be in the high 60s/low 70s.
Right now my plan for tomorrow is this: show up early with a pair of jammers and my wetsuit. I'll do a 10 to 15 minute warmup swim without the wetsuit and see if I'm man enough to take it. If not, I'll don the wetsuit. Otherwise, I'll go in the jammers.
A related question, then, for next week's swim: does anyone know if my B70 nero comp pool suit will provide any warmth? If so, that should be perfect balance for the 2.4m swim.
Based on your statement it sounds like your using this as test run for a later race, are you planning on wearing a wetsuit for that race? If so, by all means wear one for this race. Get used to it. If not then go without.
I'm not sure what I'm going to wear in the 2.4m swim race a week later. Again, that race will mostly be populated by triathletes getting ready for Ironman AZ, so I assume all of them will be wetsuit bound. However, it's sanctioned by both USMS and USAT and I suspect a lot of swimmers will be there. All of my open water swimming thus far has been summer-time based and warm (e.g., LaJolla, Sandpoint, etc.) where a wetsuit was never needed or allowed (LJRWS).
I definitely want to be competitive in the 2.4m swim. If the air temps stay like they have been for another week, the water temp should still be in the high 60s/low 70s.
Right now my plan for tomorrow is this: show up early with a pair of jammers and my wetsuit. I'll do a 10 to 15 minute warmup swim without the wetsuit and see if I'm man enough to take it. If not, I'll don the wetsuit. Otherwise, I'll go in the jammers.
A related question, then, for next week's swim: does anyone know if my B70 nero comp pool suit will provide any warmth? If so, that should be perfect balance for the 2.4m swim.
