Triathlon - Is wearing a wetsuit worth it in a sprint?
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Quick question... I'm doing a sprint in a week in Long Beach, CA. Half mile swim in the ocean. I'm guessing water temp will be around 63. I did this last year with just boardshorts (my first tri) and I noticed almost everyone else was wearing a wetsuit. It was cold, but bearable. I know I'll be faster in a wetsuit, but the swim will only take me 13-14 minutes. Should I wear my wetsuit to save a minute or two, then possible lose the minute or two in T1 while taking it off?
Rogue Leader
09-11-09, 12:25 PM
Quick question... I'm doing a sprint in a week in Long Beach, CA. Half mile swim in the ocean. I'm guessing water temp will be around 63. I did this last year with just boardshorts (my first tri) and I noticed almost everyone else was wearing a wetsuit. It was cold, but bearable. I know I'll be faster in a wetsuit, but the swim will only take me 13-14 minutes. Should I wear my wetsuit to save a minute or two, then possible lose the minute or two in T1 while taking it off?
Absolutely wear a weisuit. You should not lose 2 min taking it off, maybe 30 seconds. Worth it.
Fred Matthews
09-11-09, 12:47 PM
Wear the wetsuit. The time you gain will not be lost in T1, especially if you start getting out of it as soon as you leave the water. Also the energy that you will save will be beneficial on the bike and run.
I've definitely found that my overall energy level after finishing the swim is much better after a wetsuit swim than a non-wetsuit swim, so in an indirect kind of way it saves you time on the bike and the run too...
Rumpled
09-11-09, 02:59 PM
Water's about 70 right now - and definitely use the wetsuite.
sirious94
09-12-09, 01:57 AM
It really matters for the person, if i was swimming a sprint in about 67+ water i might go without, but it would still only take me about 6-7 minutes. If you have i wetsuit, you probably should wear one. As for the minute or two, how long does it take you? Usually takes me around 15 seconds max.
Thanks guys. I think I'll wear it.
Rumpled: Yeah, I swam in the bay the other day and the water has really warmed up in the last 2 or 3 weeks.