Suit Up!
Swimming is often the biggest challenge for those who want to become triathletes. For me this is not the case. I actually come from a swimming background. The biggest challenge in the swim I have had is the open water part. I grew up in Colorado - not a plethora of open water there to swim in. It has taken me two years to start to feel more at ease with water where I can't see the bottom. This winter I decided to tackle the next traithlon swim challenge - the wetsuit.
I have been freaked of the wetsuit concept simply because I know how to swim. I figured that being a good swimmer and then encasing myself in a suit of rubber would impede the movement and ability I already had. But, the warmth factor has been a draw. Not only do wetsuits help increase your buoyancy - helpful for those who aren't strong swimmers - it insulates you and keeps you warm. Nice.
I got a Promtion wetsuit (a nice economical choice for the amateur, I think) for Christmas and it has been hanging in the closet waiting for a test swim. So, late last week I enlisted Jeff and the camera to help me give it a test. Here's what I found:
1) Getting it on was a bit tricky and will take some practice but, at least before a race there is time to pull it on slowly and carefully. [And, because others are also wearing wetsuits you won't look as stupid as you feel you look]
2) It IS very insulating - I was swimming in fairly shallow waters that were around 80+ degrees - I was a bit sweaty feeling.
3) I think the feel might be easier for men who wear swim trunks to get used to. I never swim with anything around my legs (well, except for the compression like tri-shorts). While the upper body was more comfortable than I expected, the legs felt a bit like I was wearing a pair of pants while swimming.
4) Wetsuits are not meant to be a barrier to the water. Water still passes through them. Water passing through the legs while I was swimming made me feel like I was wetting my pants [tried and tried but I could come up with no better/nicer description for that one.]
5) Taking it off was not as tricky as it's made out to be. I was able to "jog" up and out of the water and pull the zipper down and strip the suit down to my waist - this was probably made slightly easier by the fact that I got a sleeveless style suit. I had to sit to pull off the legs but I didn't get stuck!
All in all it wasn't a bad test swim. I am waiting to see what the water temp will be in the Schuykill river next week for the Philly Women's Tri to decide if I want to use it for the race.
-Jen
PS. There are some notes with some of the pictures below. . . .
PPS. Don't let anyone take a picture of you from behind in a wetsuit - not a good look . . .
Comments
Oh Marie - you can't even imagine the "from the rear shot." Somehow black is not slimming in neoprene - I thought suddenly I had developed 4 rear ends. I selectively didn't post that one but if forced to prove it I will! :)
-Jen
Posted by: Jen | Jul 3, 2008 12:05:52 PM
Hey Jen, you look adorable!!! Try a bit of Body Glide to get your legs out faster, something happens en T1 that suddenly you can't get your legs out of it...someday I will relate the entire story....Good luck in Philly!!!! Lori
Posted by: lori | Jul 5, 2008 2:18:50 PM
Lori - Would LOVE to hear that story. . .Tried a surfing lesson yesterday (more on that this week) and wore the wetsuit. Did stumble a bit trying to get it off my legs so am planning on lots of BodyGlide. -Jen :)
Posted by: Jen | Jul 7, 2008 9:00:49 AM
Hey there... I've been thinking about wetsuits lately. Why do you like the Promotion over other brands? I can't decide if I want to buy or just rent one since I don't race as much as you do. Agggh, so confusing. And I'm very sad about the slimming effect being a myth. I was counting on that. :)
Laura
Posted by: Laura | Jul 8, 2008 6:35:23 AM
Hi Laura,
Here's my thoughts on wetsuits:
For me, most of it came down to the economics of the whole thing. I'm an amateur in the true sense of the word. I love triathlon, I love competeing but for the fun, not to win fame and fortune. And, unless I win some kind of lottery, at most I'm probably doing say 5 races a year (and that's on a good athletic budget year).
ProMotion is a company that has been around 25 years so their not fly by night but their wetsuits are far cheaper than many of the other brands you hear about. If you visit this link http://wetsuit.com/web/products_triathinfo.cfm#compare
you will find a that they have a nice summary of the wetsuit review that Triathlete magazine did in March 2008. ProMotion triathlon wetsuits were included and cost almost half what the others do for a fullsuit.
And about that slimming effect - I was bummed too - I was lulled into a false sense of compression and slimming by all those pro's in wetsuits. But, remember, there are no mirrors in transition!
Have you looked into rentals for Chicago? What do they cost and how much hassle is it?
Happy training!
-Jen
Posted by: Jen | Jul 17, 2008 6:40:45 AM
I can't imagine that you look bad from any angle. All these pictures are adorable.
M
Posted by: Trek Sister Marie | Jul 3, 2008 10:01:48 AM