Hawaiian Ironman: The Journey: 2001

Speedsuits Vs Wetsuits; the difference, whats best for you?

Coming from a swimming background I have extensive experience with speedsuits. Recently FINA changed the swimming rules to band all suits for men that extend past the knee and above the waist due to their performance enhancing capabilities. Then there are wetsuits which anyone who has even donned these amazing floatation devices will attest to their powers to make even the worst swimmer passable. But what is best for you?

If we break it down at a very simple level, wetsuits provide an extreme degree of flotation with a minor compression component. Speedsuits are designed to cut through the water with "shark like" fabric to reduce water drag, but in the recent suits also have major compression components. The suits compress the muscles reducing the affects of fatigue and allowing the athlete to push harder for longer.

My experience with speedsuits is incredible. My back end was always fast not matter how sore I was, and the onset of fatigue was significantly delayed. But now moving into a sport where wetsuits are also available for my use, I have two things to consider.

Fatigue reducing capabilities (compression component); As an athlete with my background of endurance swimming, I am never really going to have to stress to be the first out of the water. Therefore fatigue really isn’t going to set in for me. For half and full Ironman athletes, fatigue shouldn’t be setting in during the swim as you have another 4 hours or more of racing to complete. Shoulders may get sore however in the traditional speedsuit these would be exposed anyway.

Floatation; Floatation is the key to swimming well. In a past life I was a learn to swim teacher for 5 years and the first thing I taught my kids was to float. Once you can float then you worry about technique etc. 90% of triathletes would not be able to complete against swimmers. Obviously with such a small focus on swimming there would be no way you could expect them to. This is where the wetsuit shines. Instantly gets the body into a good position thus reducing the stress on the arms and legs. So for me flotation really isn’t important, for everyone else it is.

Without even looking at techniques swimming ability if you told me you were a triathlete I would tell you to get a wetsuit. Its almost like a shortcut to good swimming. Even with my ability the flotation is incredible, however so much so to me I find it a hindrance. I would much prefer a cross from the traditional speed suit and a wetsuit.

My suggestion is a blueseventy suit. I haven’t had much experience with the newer models but find it a good mix still maintaining good compression whilst not overpowering in flotation.

So I guess despite my preference the clear winner is a wet suit. My suggestions

Triathlete (no swimming background) - wetsuit
Triathlete with swimming background - wetsuit/speedsuit such as blueseventy.
Speedsuit - no place in triathlon.

Black Max Review: Open Water Swimmers Secret

Have you ever tried Speed Black Max goggles? If you haven’t please do. 19years of swimming, one type of goggles - Black Max. I currently have 5 pairs in my house.

If you are considering what to buy or are in need of a replacement pair try them out for me! If they fit your face then I guarantee you won’t turn back. My brother unfortunately can’t wear them as they don’t fit his face well, however most Open Water Swimmers I know wear them.

When you consider you are going to be in the water for up to and hour (for a full Ironman) or more, it’s important to have a pair of goggles that will be comfortable for a long period of time.

They are sleek enough, nothing like an Aquablade or true racing goggle by they tend to be very firm and rough on your eye sockets. One great thing about the black max is the outer rubber lining. It acts as a suction cup and holds firmly to your face, however provides a nice cushion if you get hit.

One thing I have learnt through my open water swimming career is you definitely need cushioning. IN my two races I have seen how it would be important in triathlon. Legs feet everywhere, people of all different swimming abilities, an elbow to the eye would very quickly give you a black eye if you had the wrong goggles on!

I train in them, I have raced in them for 25km (5 hours and 27mins of continuous swimming), they have the perfect mix of stability, cushioning and unless your allergic to rubber wont irritate the eyes. All swimmers know about black max, we just choose not to race in them and opt for a more slim design, so you never see them. But most I talk to would admit they are the most comfortable goggle they have ever worn. So if you are in the market, try them out, see how they fit your face. I wouldn't wear anything else.

Technique vs Kms

A lot of cyclists and Ironman triathletes I have met over the past few months have told me many things how how to develop my riding. The sentiment from everyone is resounding, lots and lots of kilometres. You won’t get faster working on technique, its time in the saddle and leg strength that will get you to the top.

So with this in mind, I would like to discuss the theory of technique vs kilometres for triathletes. A lot of my friends have been working very hard on technique, working with technique coaches, having underwater filming done. However when it comes to Triathlon swimming, I believe this is highly unnecessary and the theory of cycling also applies to swimming.

Now certainly if you want to become a world beating swimmer, then technique is highly important. The top swimmers of the world spend years perfecting the slightest technical imperfections they may have. A lot of these issues help with top end speed, and can be the difference between say a 46.9 100free and a 47.4 swim. In triathlon this sort of speed is unnecessary and unless you have a group of incredibly strong swimmers completely pointless. For example in my Shepparton race I was clear of any swimmer by 1min, if I was with the pros that would mean riding by myself until the pack caught me. Packs ride a lot quicker than single riders.

What triathletes need is the ability to swim strongly and get out of the water comfortably at the head of the pack. The quickest way to get this is through Kms in the pool, not technique. In my swimming career I was anything but a technical swimmer. In the pool I was beaten by a lot of technical swimmers, however in Open Water swimming, my high cadence stroke gave me the ability to cut through rough water and quickly swim past swimmers. Without clear water technical swimmers sometimes struggle because they can’t hold the water well.

Sure it is important to have the basics under control. Ensure your hand entry is clean, stretching out as far as you can and also maintaining good core control to help float your legs so you don’t have to work them. However other than this I believe triathletes need to find their "natural" stroke. This is certainly what I did and I went on to represent Australia ain 5 & 10km swims.

Being this way wasn’t a plan however that we set out to achieve from the start. Up until the age of 19 I was a breastroker so freestyle to me was pointless. Due to this I didn’t do any technique work and rarely cared about how I looked in the water. This is what helped develop me into the swimmer I am today. Would I go faster with technique, yes I would probably be able to improve dramatically. However I don’t want to be a swimmer anymore, I want to be a triathlete.

Now don’t get me wrong I do strive for perfection. I want to be the best at everything. But I cannot support technical swimming freestyle, I am not developed for it. This is what I believe is the problem with most triathletes. They spend countless sessions developing the perfect stroke, but don’t have the fundamental strength or endurance base to really support it.

So what should you take away from all of this? To ride well you need to ride a lot. To swim well you need to swim a lot. Get the basics down, and then work on Km's in the pool rather than 2km of drill work to try and get the perfect stroke. After you have built your endurance base, then maybe you can decide to go and perfect your stroke. But in the world of triathlon and Ironman right now, swimming perfectly will only get you a long and lonely ride expending a lot more energy than your competitors.

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