"Don't Stop Believing" Journey to Ironman: Triathlon Race Secrets--Wetsuit Chat

Endurance Nation

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Bodywork Revolution

Steve Cunningham of Bodywork Revolution is the central reason why I can get through Ironman training in one piece. No one is as good a bodyworker as Steve. No one. The nuero-stretch class he offers is so good, my teenagers don't miss it! Check it out. He also offers acupuncture, massage, meditation classes, and traditional Chinese medicine.

May 28, 2009

Here's some helpful wetsuit chat.

Putting plastic bags on your feet helps get the wetsuit on really easily! I see people do this all the time, but I forget to do it myself most of the time. Have to remember this for myself. Also, the bags give you something to put nasty clothes in later!

Spraying myself with a product called TriSlide also helps a ton with getting the wettie on. It doesn't contain the kinds of oils that can hurt the neoprene. There's no scent, and it doesn't leave you feeling covered in a heavy oil like spraying with Pam. I like it.

Don't forget to lube your neck. You can do 100 triathlons and never have a problem. Then out of the blue in a race swim, you will get the worst neck chafe you can imagine! Ouch, it hurts. It takes five seconds to lube this area, and it can save you a world of pain.

Here's a pointer that requires a little more Zen. Take a breath after you get your wetsuit on, and make sure it's on perfectly. And I mean perfectly. If there is the teeniest feeling of a twist, fix it. Make sure the crotch is pulled up all the way, and the underarms are in the right place; the neck is comfortable. Only when you stand there and do a head-to-toe scan and everything is exactly where it should be is your wetsuit "on." That little twist or gap in the underarm will come back to haunt you. Trust me.

Assuming you are wearing a long-sleeve wettie, here's a great tip I had not thought of before! As you exit the water and run towards T1, unzip, then remove goggles and cap. THEN--as you pull your arms out of the top, leave the goggles and cap inside the sleeve! They stay there without falling out, and it's one less thing to deal with in T1. Bonus--after the race, you'll know where your cap and goggles are as you clean up the yard sale that had formerly been your beautifully organized transition area. :)

From my personal point of view--spend the money, get the Aquaman Bionik. :) After four different long-sleeve wetsuits, this one went beyond my expectations. I don't even need to kick in it, and it comes off like a hot knife through butter. Love it.

Happy race day swimming! It's often my favorite part of the day!

Here's some helpful wetsuit chat.

Putting plastic bags on your feet helps get the wetsuit on really easily! I see people do this all the time, but I forget to do it myself most of the time. Have to remember this for myself. Also, the bags give you something to put nasty clothes in later!

Spraying myself with a product called TriSlide also helps a ton with getting the wettie on. It doesn't contain the kinds of oils that can hurt the neoprene. There's no scent, and it doesn't leave you feeling covered in a heavy oil like spraying with Pam. I like it.

Don't forget to lube your neck. You can do 100 triathlons and never have a problem. Then out of the blue in a race swim, you will get the worst neck chafe you can imagine! Ouch, it hurts. It takes five seconds to lube this area, and it can save you a world of pain.

Here's a pointer that requires a little more Zen. Take a breath after you get your wetsuit on, and make sure it's on perfectly. And I mean perfectly. If there is the teeniest feeling of a twist, fix it. Make sure the crotch is pulled up all the way, and the underarms are in the right place; the neck is comfortable. Only when you stand there and do a head-to-toe scan and everything is exactly where it should be is your wetsuit "on." That little twist or gap in the underarm will come back to haunt you. Trust me.

Assuming you are wearing a long-sleeve wettie, here's a great tip I had not thought of before! As you exit the water and run towards T1, unzip, then remove goggles and cap. THEN--as you pull your arms out of the top, leave the goggles and cap inside the sleeve! They stay there without falling out, and it's one less thing to deal with in T1. Bonus--after the race, you'll know where your cap and goggles are as you clean up the yard sale that had formerly been your beautifully organized transition area. :)

From my personal point of view--spend the money, get the Aquaman Bionik. :) After four different long-sleeve wetsuits, this one went beyond my expectations. I don't even need to kick in it, and it comes off like a hot knife through butter. Love it.

Happy race day swimming! It's often my favorite part of the day!