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Newbie o Wetsuit Questions

David WilliamsDavid Williams
in General Training Discussions











This season I’ve got a HIM (this Saturday) and my first Ironman (IMWI) – both of which will be wetsuit swims.  So, I’m a bit of a wetsuit newbie.  I went out to my HIM’s beach this past weekend to try the wetsuit I am borrowing from my friend.  I’ve spent too much money on triathlon this year to justify buying my own wetsuit.  I understand fit is very important in a wetsuit… but I’m just not going to buy one this year.  I do have some impressions and questions for the team though..

 

First of all, I got to the beach and it reeked of dead fish.  There was a couple dozen dead small pan fish in the water and up on the beach.  Yuck.  I texted my friend before getting in that I might not make it out…

I did feel some water get into the wetsuit through the back of my neck area.  Is this ok?  I didn’t feel too much drag.

My shoulders seemed a bit sore after only a couple hundred yards.  I was not warmed up, but I think the suit was restricting my arm movement.  Is this natural?  Again, I did not go at it long enough to see if I was simply warming up.

Is it easier to get into if it is wet?  Should I use any Body Glide to put it on easier?

 

In T1 – which is my favorite thing about triathlon (being done with the swim) – without wetsuit strippers, how do I take the wetsuit off?  Do people sit down by their bikes or take it off standing up?  I’m usually off balance right after a swim, so standing might be dicey!  I don’t want to run off course to find a bench… but that’s what I did last weekend.

Where do you leave it once it’s off?  I guess I should just throw it along side my other stuff.  It seems like it would take up a lot of space in the transition area.  I’d prefer to hang it up so it can dry.  image

Comments

  • Steven FordSteven Ford
    Posted By David Williams on 07 Jun 2010 02:31 PM









    This season I’ve got a HIM (this Saturday) and my first Ironman (IMWI) – both of which will be wetsuit swims.  So, I’m a bit of a wetsuit newbie.  I went out to my HIM’s beach this past weekend to try the wetsuit I am borrowing from my friend.  I’ve spent too much money on triathlon this year to justify buying my own wetsuit.  I understand fit is very important in a wetsuit… but I’m just not going to buy one this year.  I do have some impressions and questions for the team though..

     

    First of all, I got to the beach and it reeked of dead fish.  There was a couple dozen dead small pan fish in the water and up on the beach.  Yuck.  I texted my friend before getting in that I might not make it out…

    Dead fish is never a good sign, could mean the pond is oxygen deprived or something more hideous.

    I did feel some water get into the wetsuit through the back of my neck area.  Is this ok?  I didn’t feel too much drag.

    Its a wetsuit not a dry suit so you should feel the water going in.

    My shoulders seemed a bit sore after only a couple hundred yards.  I was not warmed up, but I think the suit was restricting my arm movement.  Is this natural?  Again, I did not go at it long enough to see if I was simply warming up.

    It is restricting your arm movement, it probably is not the right fit for you. I have 2 suits one full sleeve and 1 john suit for when the water is warmer, the john suit does feel better on my shoulders.

    Is it easier to get into if it is wet?  Should I use any Body Glide to put it on easier?

    I put some pam on my legs to help it on, you should use glide anywhere you might get chaffed, think neck line.

     

    In T1 – which is my favorite thing about triathlon (being done with the swim) – without wetsuit strippers, how do I take the wetsuit off?  Do people sit down by their bikes or take it off standing up?  I’m usually off balance right after a swim, so standing might be dicey!  I don’t want to run off course to find a bench… but that’s what I did last weekend.

    I usually take the top half off as I am going to my bike and when I get there I sometimes sit down to get the rest off.

    Where do you leave it once it’s off?  I guess I should just throw it along side my other stuff.  It seems like it would take up a lot of space in the transition area.  I’d prefer to hang it up so it can dry. 

    Put it beside your stuff, just not on top of something you want dry when you come back.

     





     

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    I agree with Steven 100%. The only thing I'd add is try and pull the arms WAAAY up so there's a little slack around your shoulders  - with your arm extended over your head and/or out in front or to the side, grab the sleeve just below the detloids and pull towards your shoulder, then stretch your arm all around to check the freedom of movement.

    In T1, I see guys stomping off their suits standing up; I'm not that stable.  I've always had to sit down to get the legs off. But at IMWI, they'll have strippers, so relax and enjoy it.

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    Wetsuit swimming is very different. Take the first 15-20 minutes of each OWS to just do drills and relax into your suit. As others have mentioned make sure the suit is nice and snug in your armpits and groin. I find a lot of newbies assume the sleeves should be like a dress shirt (Down to wrist) and legs down to ankle bones (like dress pants). Au contraire -- the sleeves can be as far as 3-4 inches up from your wrist and ankle bone.

    As for swimming thoughts, don't worry so much about high elbow recoveries, just swing your arms around closer to the water. Picking your elbow up even just a bit drives your other side into the water with your catch....neoprene has its advantages!!! image

    Keep us posted!

    Patrick
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