I finished my first spring triathlon of the season past this weekend (this is my second season competing). I was fairly happy with my time. 1:33:00 for a 500 yard swim, 30K bike, and 3K run. Sixth out of 15. The next local tri is May 17. There is a sprint and an Olympic the same day. I have the registration open for the Olympic on another page, but I'm being a sissy and won't press the button. I was looking for some encouragement. I'm scared to death of a 1500m swim. I can do it in a pool, but the 500 yard swim is still my longest open water swim.

Do it!! If you can do the swim in the pool without stopping, you'll be fine in the open water.

Is the open water a lake or ocean? If it's a lake (especially a small one - or better, man made) there's no reason not to do the longer distance.

dooo itttt!!

I'm doing an Oly as my ist tri ever, and first swimming doing anything besides recreational laps once a month.

You'll be fine!

Part of me thinks I should do the Sprint and try to be more competitive and the other part wants to do the Olympic to prove to myself I can do it and to get ready for a half IM on June 28.

HTFU. youll be fine if you can do it in a pool.

If you're doing a half IM in June, doing an Olympic-distance is a good confidence builder, especially with the timing of almost a month in between. I've done the jump from sprint straight to half IM, and I don't know that I recommend it.

With the added info that you have a half in your near future - I double my emphatic DO IT!!!!

C'mon. This shouldn't even be a debate! You're signed up for a half IM and you're not sure if you can handle an olympic distance tri?

I signed on the dotted line last night. I'm pretty nervous. I swam 2000 yards in the pool last week, but still not sure about the 1500 meter swim in the lake. Oh well, I'll update on Monday.

Good luck, it will be fine!!

There's always extended periods of backstroke...

Good luck!