Chad, interesting you say this. At stanford, when I forgot my wet suit top, I had run back to the bikes to see if I could find one.
I could not, so when I got back to the swim start, it was only like a minute before the start. I was pretty tired from the run,
but was surprised I did not do too bad in the swim w/o any “warm” up. So, at the ice breaker, with I expect the water to be in the mid
50’s, I am going to try the same thing. I will just run some and not do any swim warm up and see what happens.
Running is part of my warmup for swim meets my normal day is run, then go to the pool… why change things
(I may be trying to rationalize running on swim meet days but… so far so good).
To the OP: cold water is not that bad. Then again, if the duathlon is more appealing to you, go for it.
I’ll be there too. First event of the season, a tune-up get the cobwebs out of the way early season event for me. 60 isn’t that cold if you’re used to putting a dock or two in the water every spring for 15 years and being in water with and without wetsuits that is 10 degrees or more colder. I plan on doubling up the swim cap and peeing in my wetsuit very quickly upon entering the water.
I gotta go with the whole Tri. Not that there is anything wrong with a Du, but witha wetsuit and neoprene cap under your race cap, afer the first 150 yds, you won’t even notice it. Plus, there’s no flipturns! ; - )
I have no problem doing the dualthlon. Swimming is my weak sport, so I am looking for any excuse and water temps in the 50s seemed like a good one
I will probably do the swim, as long as the air temp is not in the 40s and low 50s like it has been lately.
We are still waiting for spring to kick in around here
Long term forecasts are putting the temps to a high in the upper sixties - so nothing like last weekend (I froze on a 65 mile ride Sunday). My guess is that the water will be warmer than the ambient air at race start, and it will warm up considerably during the bike.
Do the swim - it will be fun. Think of the great stories for your race report - swimming with narwhales, going past the polar bear on the run to the second loop, ducking between the ice floes covered with Newfoundlanders waiting to club you as you go by …
K-sq you are NASTY. Remind me to make you shower before letting you back in the cabin!
yeah HTFU is a good idea, but so are the other tips. I find the worse 200 meters are the first. And yeah, jumping in prior is a good idea. If it hits 60 that will be totally ok, 60 is in fact totally fine with a long sleeve.
I swim all June in RI ocean at its 50s and while not lovely its doable.
K-sq you are NASTY. Remind me to make you shower before letting you back in the cabin!
Years of water skiing have taught me that when you get in the cold water that takes your breath away a good tinkle goes a long way to warm things up. People pee on the bike all the time and have it fill there shoes and stay there for hours without second thought, so peeing in a wetsuit to make you warm just makes sense to me!
my normal day is run, then go to the pool… why change things 
