Non wetsuit race
Ironman Maryland is likely going to be a non wetsuit swim due to water temp. Usually I wear my tri top and bottoms under my wetsuit, so I can just strip off the wetsuit and go. If I cannot wear a wetsuit should I still wear my tri top, or will it cause unnecessary drag in the water? The problem with not wearing it in the water is it can be a bitch to put on in T1. I did an Olympic in June where I put it on in T1 and fought it for a full minute before finally getting it pull down. Suggestions?
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Stee, Good luck in your race. A suggestion I first heard from Al Truscott is to step into your tri top and pull it up. Just have the zipper already opened all the way and you will be surprised how quick and easy your top goes on.
If you have to wear a top, go ahead and wear the tri top. You can get a skin suit to save a bit of time if you've got $250 burning a hole in your pocket. The xterra speedsuit lists for $350, but as with all things xterra, I assume can be had for roughly half that if you work hard to find a discount. (kind of like Rudy) :-)
@WJ- just read the rules, there is nothing stating that a top must be worn. It does state that you cannot wear anything below the shoulders or the knees if it is a non wetsuit swim.
"• When the use of wetsuits is forbidden,
clothing covering any part of the arms
below the shoulders and clothing covering
any of the leg below the knee is deemed
illegal equipment and is not permitted.
Compression wear may NOT be worn
DURING non-wetsuit swims, but may be
worn upon completion of the swim"
@Bob- I'll hit up Al T for some guidance on that technique.
Hey Steve,
I'd do what WJ suggests - speedsuit. With our Xterra discount on the Velocity, you'll get about 3 seconds/100yds for $140. In our rather expensive sport, it's one of the best ROI's out there. Goes right over your race kit, and you'll notice the difference.
Mike
The Xterra Velocity is out of stock in my size, but found a killer deal on SwimOutlet.com on a Tyr Torque Lite Speed suit. $150 and delivered tomorrow. No team discount but a good deal anyways.
I first encountered the drama of pulling a dry tri top over a wet torso on Maui at the Xterra races there I did in the early/mid '00s. Swim skins solved the problem, but I re-encountered it last year in Tahoe, when it would have been suicide to wear the tri top under the wetsuit, and then ride in 34F air. So in my condo, I tried practicing several maneuvers to see how long it would take to get dressed in T1, with all the stuff I intended to put on. I remembered the problems in Hawaii, and just popped on the idea of stepping into the top instead of pulling it over. Just like putting ohm a a pair of pants. Start with the zipper unzipped, and the top sort of squished up, grab all the fabric on beach side, step, and pull. It took less then 10 seconds to get it on, even while wet.
I do know from my own experience that skin suits save several seconds/100 meters, and if you're going for the gold, you might go 1-2 minutes faster in one over 3800 m.
Thanks Al- I will practice that technique just to know how it works. I am going to be in a speedsuit for this one, hopefully saving those few seconds every 100 yards. This time I AM going for the gold.