Originally Posted by
SwimmerMike
In the old days, I did 1/2 ironman's and Alcatraz in just a speedo and shoes, so I get the desire to keep it simple and not over think it. Now, I wear my tri-kit under my wetsuit. Definitely don't want to try to put on dry clothes on a wet body (I did a really cold try and putting on arm warmers was time consuming). For anything longer than a sprint, I'm a firm believer you should wear a wet-suit if the swim is wet-suit legal. As long as you are proficient in taking the wetsuit off, the time saved in the swim by wearing a wet suit will be more than time required to take off a wet-suit.
Mike, thanks. So I heard back from the promoters and the wet suit will be optional. I've only raced once in the wet suit, my first sprint. It was a horrible experience. 400 yards and I thought I was going to drown in the last 100. I simply wasn't fit enough and didn't pace myself. Now, I can go two miles and be okay, without a suit. The swim in the next Oly is 1500 yards. So, you're thought is that the wet suit will shave enough time to justify wearing it? I can get out of the suit in less than a minute. I just thought I'd wear tri shorts and throw a quick shirt on during T1. I'm just worried that I'd give up so much time in the swim san the suit as to look silly!