I have seen a lot of posts here related to the speed benefits of swimming in a wetsuit (and I am an acknowledged fan of said benefit.)
I have also heard comments from friends and read comments on the board about salt water being faster than fresh water.
Do you folks have a number in your head for the speed benefit of salt water in a non-wetsuit swim? I would like to know because I am doing St. Croix this year as my first Half-IM and I want to have the right information for setting my own goals. I have done Oly distance races both with and without a wetsuit. Although I am a very comfortable swimmer, my technique (balance in particular) is bad enough that I get a great boost in speed from a wetsuit.
Here is all of my basic information for you to put into your super-duper swim speed calculator, or at least remove the excuse of “we don’t know anything about you so we can’t estimate how it will help you”:
I’m 6’4" and about 165 lbs (looong legs, long arms, shortish torso)
I normally swim in a Short Course Yards pool. My fastest 100 on a SCY is about 1:15. I don’t flip turn.
The swim at St. Croix is 2K, which is slightly longer than the normal 1.2 mile Half-IM swim.
I did a 2000 SCY straight swim on Sunday (in between two 1000 yard sets) in 34 minutes flat. I know that meters run about 10% longer, so a 2000 meter open water swim in fresh water would probably run between 38 and 40 minutes when you take into account some current and zig-zagging and the lack of a wall to push off from every 25 yards.
Should I just plan on 40 minutes and be happy if I am faster, or should I plan a little bit of time savings because of the salt water?
this came up last week and the concensus was any speed benefit is down in the noise. I would read Gordo Byrn’s pacing tips for a first 1/2 IM. I found it helpful.
I doubt you’ll find it much faster at all unless you’re swimming in the Dead Sea or something. I know here in Hawaii it seems to make no difference whatsoever to me other than that it can chafe your pits pretty bad if you don’t bodyglide up before open water swimming. I think the biggest benefit is that the women sitting on the pool deck are usually in one piece suits and the ones at the beach are usually in bikinis, a good training venue is one that takes into account the attractiveness and inspirational qualities of the surroundings as well.
The Wetsuit Question… This is the question that all of us Hawaii non-wetsuit swimmers are dreading. Well, I’m guessing that if they let USAT rules run the race it’ll be wetsuit legal as I’m pretty sure that water will be sub 78 degrees as we are starting damn dark and early. But a warning, it’ll be warm enough that if you have any tendancy to overheat the wetsuit may be a bad idea. You’ll also get a lot of funny looks from the Hawaii people who consider wearing the wetsuit a sacrilage;) I’m going to put mine on next week just to see if I think it’s worth it. I’m one of those who doesn’t seem to benefit much from a wetsuit, negative benefit if anything. I’m not an amazing swimmer without one, but just like a pull bouy is an anchor on me so are wetsuits.
70% wetsuit legal water temp, 30% non-wetsuit, that’s my guess.
If you need anything while you’re out here, for that mater if anyone needs anything or any info for the race, let me know.
Are we doing a two loop swim? That might be a little crazy with different wave starts! Some folks are going to get run over! This year the swim should be faster if we aren’t swimming through 3-4 waves. I couldn’t see anything last year in those waves and drank some salt water.
I might bring the sleeveless just in case! We should have shorter transition as well if they move the swim.
see my new post “Honolulu Triathlon Wave Start times” for more details.
Good point on the salt water though. ONe of the biggest things that throws a lot of pool or fresh water swimmers off is taking in salt water on the swim. It can sometimes do a number on your stomach and sure is a funny taste if you are not used to it.
