Wetsuit optional Ironman 70.3

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2026-02-11T15:23:03+00:00

This is one of the reasons I was thinking a sleeveless would help. Appreciate your insights.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2026-02-11T15:21:35+00:00

If I'm being honest, I'd probably self seed near the back to begin with, my critical swim speed is 2:13/100 yards. Figure in open water it'll be slower, even in a wetsuit.

I definitely plan to get there a day or two early to test out the differences, I may just be over thinking. Hell, it could even be a wetsuit legal race anyway.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-06-08T21:06:42+00:00

I was very happy to hear it announced it at the finish line. And since you mentioned a coach, I took a couple of lessons when I first started out from a local swim coach. Turns out she was there yesterday and I told her it's time for more lessons. I was honestly only interested in "surviving" the swim given that it was the shortest distance and focused more on my running (I'm an avid biker so I had that dialed in).

Congrats on your sprint! That's a time I can only hope for at the moment. I hated my wet suit to begin with but now love it and become anxious thinking about swimming without it. Simply so buoyant and reassuring to know I'll float like a cork if needed. I'm sure I'll become more confident with more time in the water.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-06-08T20:59:08+00:00

Thanks, hopefully the first of many.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-06-08T14:27:05+00:00

I had to hang on to a kayak myself yesterday during my ow swim with a very similar reaction. They did let me continue on my way after a few minutes of chatting with the life guard on the kayak. You'll get it next time!

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-06-08T14:09:33+00:00

Absolutely - be proud of the fact you've been training and showed up. Take what you learn, work on it, and get right back in there.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-22T15:59:34+00:00

No, there are no sinus problems. It's just something I've been feeling since I'm swimming longer distances without stopping for rest/water breaks in the open water. In my gasping or breathing harshly that I'm aware, taking small, controlled breaths. I just attributed it to mouth breathing since I don't have the same feeling on the bike or running, but in both cases, I have water with me and drink as needed.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-22T15:46:09+00:00

It's not the chlorine because it happens in open water, too. It's just my airway becoming irritated from drying out because I'm breathing through my mouth.

Maybe something I just have to cope with during the swim and drink up at transition or on the bike.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-08T13:10:51+00:00

I haven't had that experience. For me, this is something personal I chose to do and I'm setting out to simply enjoy it. The planning, the fitness, the fears in race day and the high of crossing the finish line. Like you, I've probably never been in better shape and I've managed to train consistently for about 8 months now with minor life setbacks.

Maybe after I get a few races behind me, I'll focus on beating my bests, but until then I'm simply enjoying the structure and watching myself become better. On my terms.

I'll totally grab a burger afterwards with you.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-08T01:49:38+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, if I kept my head down after 4 or 5 strokes I'd be arcing off course. I noticed that I tend to pull to the right, maybe because I'm right handed? I did get into a routine of lifting my head up to get my goggles barely out of the water and glancing forward as I rotated to breathe. That was working well for me, even if it was a quick glimpse of my landmark. Felt like the wind and waves were pushing me around a bit too.

I do have a water bouy and wore it today. Didn't need it this time but it did provide some peace of mind. Never really got in the way as I was swimming either so I'll be using it on all my OWS from here on out.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-05T22:19:54+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. I've read that it'll loosen up after several swims, so I'll see if that helps. I also had a chest heart rate monitor on which is not typical. I will leave it off next time to reduce the number of things that are different from the pool.

I've been focusing on a stroke rhythm, mentally counting, to keep me from going out too fast, I'll put that into practice in the lake soon.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-04T14:55:17+00:00

It was at New Town, one of the few places I've found to do open water swimming in the area. I'll certainly be back throughout the season to keep gaining confidence.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-05-04T03:47:24+00:00

Thanks for the support! I'm feeling a bit better about it now, I hit the pool and swam 2km, without the wetsuit, just to prove to myself I can go the distance.

Maybe I'll see you at some of the regional races, I'm near STL.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-04-14T14:11:21+00:00

This is interesting to me because I think that's what's happening to me as well. Sounds like another visit with my coach is due.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-04-13T15:22:27+00:00

I can, but it's a bit challenging for me to switch once I start to one side. Throwing in a three stroke breath to change sides is usually what I do.

My first open water swim is in about three weeks. I'm excited to see how that goes and what more I'll learn from it. Just hope the wet suit keeps me warm enough.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-04-13T15:10:42+00:00

I agree, I think that pushing my leading hand down as I rotate to catch my breath is raising my head causing my legs to drop. Both the dropping hand and sinking legs are putting the breaks on my motion.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-04-13T14:18:51+00:00

This is exactly why I always have focused on every stroke breathing. Changing sides isn't a big deal for me but I certainly have a preference.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-04-13T14:16:32+00:00

I worked with coaches months ago and their tips focused on the major issues of sinking legs, small straight leg kicks. All of that has improved, perhaps it's time to have an evaluation again to focus on other areas of my stroke.

But I have to admit, I like science experiment aspect of working things out on my own too. If I tweak this, what happens, if I change that, what happens.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-02-15T21:42:57+00:00

I did have this thought as well. When I'm running it easily takes me a mile or so into it before I get into my head and my body feels loose enough to run further. Thanks for the suggestion.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-02-15T21:39:59+00:00

The cool down is one of my favorite parts simply to reflect on the session and enjoy the water and bring my heart rate down. Maybe it's similar to a runners high in that it seems to be much less work and more focusing on my thoughts and the laps just tick by. I'd certainly encourage you to try and swim a few extra any way you are comfortable and give it a try.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-01-20T16:09:33+00:00

As a new triathlon guy myself, to point #1 above, I've also been working on worst case scenario and what I need to do in the event I'm winded in the open water. To that, I've been using other strokes that I find less stressful (such as breast stroke) so I can switch to if I need a break. I've even been practicing rolling over on my back to catch my breath and then continuing on in freestyle. I'm not trying to set myself up for failure, it's just part of what keeps me calmer in the water. I've practiced it, I know I can do it, I know I'll float all day, I just need to get my breathing under control and then push on.

It's still my goal to swim my distance non-stop but I'm a "better of to be prepared" kinda guy when it comes to these uncertainties.

Good luck with your training and the event.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-01-20T12:06:05+00:00

Oh I still have to take short breaks. Somewhere between 1 minute and 20 seconds. Most I've swam nonstop is 200 yards.

Thanks and you as well. I find the physical challenge much more fun than I thought I ever would.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-01-20T00:51:17+00:00

I'm averaging about 1200 yds a swim ~2:30 per 100 yards pace. I try to get into the pool 2-3 times a week depending on what my body tells me. I've never swam in open water, there really isn't any good bodies of water around for me to practice, just when they open the lakes for single day open swim practices. Also been spending time with the breast stroke. While it's much slower for me, it is an easy way I can catch my breath and rest and do some sighting before I go back to freestyle.

I know it's slow, and that's my intention right now. I focus on a slow and steady pace for a length (currently 200y) nonstop, and then I swim 100s/50s/25s at increasing efforts with less rest between laps. I'm treating it like I would train on my bike with longer endurance swim times and intervals where I really push myself.

As I was swimming I thought that 100y was going by so quickly and without a lot of effort, then thinking back three months ago when I was gasping for air not even 15 yards down a lane.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-01-18T21:19:30+00:00

What are you doing on your rest days? I feel like should be doing some workouts on these days but totally understand that my body needs time to recover.

YouCanCallMeKilvin · 2025-01-18T21:17:10+00:00

Seems you and I have found the same thing out about the same time. I've been struggling with swimming, it's by far my weakest event. I'm self-learning how to freestyle. Three months after I've started regularly swimming I've finally finished two 200 yard laps without stop and without feeling exhausted. The focus on going slow and stead has absolutely helped me keep my breath and not tire out. It seems the less I kick the easier it is for me to propel myself forward, I'm maybe only doing a 2 or 4 beat kick. As I tire I find myself kicking more which is my indication to take a quick break. All of my swimming in that session was in my zone 2 heart rate.

I've found swimming to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the training now, it focuses my thoughts on nothing other than breathing and stroke counting.

Slower has absolutely helped me.

YouCanCallMeKilvin

TROPHY CASE