I’m planning on getting into tri’s this summer with my significant other. I’ve done 1 sprint before, she has done no tri’s. For our first races, I plan on doing one with a 0.5 mile swim, and she is planning on doing one with a .25 miles swim. I plan to rent/buy a wetsuit once we work up to longer distances, but was curious if for a sprint, if the advantages of a wetsuit are negated by the time it take to transition out of them?
Should I also consider the wearing a wetsuit just to get used to it before a longer race, even if it costs me some time overall?
Even in a sprint with a 1/2 mile swim you’ll probably be faster with the suit, even when includin the time it takes to take it off. With practice, you can get a wetsuit off in a matter of seconds. If the water is cold, you’ll be much more comfortable too.
If the water is warm, you’ll be fine either way but anytime it’s cold enough to be legal, I’m wearing a wetsuit.
Listen carefully. If it is 400M plus and it is legal WEAR A WETSUIT! ! ! You should be able to get 10 seconds+ per 100 M in a wet-suit. If it takes you over 30 seconds to get a suit off you got problems.
When I first started doing triathlon, I swam in open water with wetsuit and without to measure the difference. I was a good athlete but a bad swimmer in terms of technique. For sprint distances, I could swim 1:35 per hundred in a wetsuit and 1:50 without one, and it took lots more energy to complete the swim without the suit. That’s a couple minutes of time in a sprint triathlon, and if you can’t get your wetsuit off in 2 minutes then you need a different wetsuit.
After swimming with a Masters group and improving technique, I am a lot faster overall and the difference is not as great in terms of time, but the energy expenditure is still more if I’m not in a wetsuit. I’ll always wear one if they are allowed.
Also-realize that time taking your wetsuit off isn’t technically added to your T1/swim time. Since you take it half way off running to your transition area probably 60% of the work is done…if you’re good with it that is
If the water is warm, you’ll be fine either way but anytime it’s cold enough to be legal, I’m wearing a wetsuit.
What is cold enough to be legal? When is a full suit preferred over a sleeveless (johns I think they are called?)?
If the water is warm, you’ll be fine either way but anytime it’s cold enough to be legal, I’m wearing a wetsuit.
What is cold enough to be legal? When is a full suit preferred over a sleeveless (johns I think they are called?)?
I think the rules say that if the water’s above 78degrees than wetsuits aren’t legal. I’ve personally never done a race where that was the case though.
I’m no swimming expert (I suck), but I think the experts say that a full suit is always fastest. I think many people find sleeveless more comfortable but that’s a preference and not performance decision.
The wetsuit makes sense for the 1/2mile, but probably not for the 400m. I have a 2-piece DeSoto, and one nice thing is that you can wear the top for 400m sprints to get some extra speed/warmth, but remove it without taking any extra time as you run to T1.
I see lots of wetsuits at the local Tri-for-Fun (400M swim). I think it’s more that people like to post a 15sec. faster swim split, even if they lose 20sec. in T1.
I agree that you will benefit from a wetsuit and I would wear one if allowed. It appears that the OP doesn’t have one yet and wanted to know if he had to have one to race.
Average time savings of MOP/BOP swimmers is 8 to 15 seconds per hundred with fullsuit. Average time to take it off is 10 seconds for everyone, a bit faster for pros…Just do the math, and that will tell you if you need a suit or not…This is provided there is enough run up to your bike to get the top half down, if not, then add some time for T1 and re do the equation…
Did Sprint Dist last year with 76 degree water temp and 400M swim. Was one of only two in a race field over 400 who wore the full suit. Result: posted 42 seconds faster than previous year (without suit) overall fastest swim (which I rarely get) and took the overall win in the race. All these posts say the same thing wear the suit when it’s legal (78 degree or under).
always use a wetsuit when you have the option. i go slightly against conventional wisdom and use the short suit for sprints if water temps are high. otherwise Hydrofull all the way.