Triathlon - Finishing the Swim: When to start running?

I've heard from some in the past that it's best to swim as long as you can, -until your hand hits the sand before getting up and running. Yet I see a number of people start running as soon as they are about chest deep.

It believe that running too soon can burn up a lot of energy. Running in water isn't easy. On the other hand, it seems to be the quickest way out of the water. ;-)

Thoughts?

Swimming is faster than running until your hand hits bottom. Try it in a pool sometime if you don't think it's right.

Totally agree about the hand hitting the bottom--running chest-deep is a lot of work.

My cut-off is knee deep. Up until that point, I can still swim faster than I can run.

Depending on where you are swimming, just don't think about what your hand is hitting on the bottom....:twitchy:

while i agree that you should stop swimming as close to the shore as possible, i did not do this in my last race. there was a person running through the water next to me who seemed faster than i was. i couldn't explain it, but i did stand up at that point (about waist deep) and start running a little earlier than i normally would.

robb.

now i haven't done a tri yet, but i swin in a river a good amount, and i've found that its faster to swim till your hands touch, and sometimes pull yourself along the bottom with your hands a few "paces" before you stand up.