Question for triathetes

[John VN]

I have my first Sprint in 4 weeks. My issue is with swimming. Began learning freestyle swim in March, getting better but being 62 and still recovering from nerve injury due to slight broken neck, fractured clavicle and shoulder having much bone on bone contact with restricted movement and pain I am slow in water.

I feel that I should start way in the back for swim and was wondering if talking to RD should be done or just mosey around making sure I am last in the water.

Already signed up for 2nd Sprint providing I don't drown in the 1st one.

 

[tiberius]

Is your triathlon a wave start or mass start? Most sprint races I am familiar with are wave starts by age groups.

I wouldn't see any problem with hanging back a bit to let the rest get going ahead of you. However, if you have a wave start and are not the last wave you might want to keep in mind faster swimmers will pass you--therefore I would stay a bit off the shortest course line to allow those faster swimmers an easy path past you.

Do you know anyone who has done this race in the past? They could be your best source of info for this race.

Good luck!

 

[El&Asmom]

I would hang in back and allow others to pull ahead. Your time won't start until you pass the start line with your chip.

I'm a average swimmer at best. (A fast breast stroker due to not being able to do freestyle because of vertigo). I always start at the back of my wave and it works out well. Especially since I need a bit more space for the breast stroke.

Have fun. You'll be hooked after your first.

 

[cewait]

Comfort is the largest key in your first swim. In the event the race is a mass start, hang back and let all pull away. Depending on the start configuration, I have even held back as far as a point where I could stand and then would start swimming just as the back markers would start.

If it is a wave start, I would contact the RD and ask to be placed in the last wave. Usually waves are not spaced out all that much and if like a lot of RD's around here, you are in the last male wave just in front of the fastest female wave. I have found that both as an RD and a competitor, getting to the RD earlier rather than race AM is the better. More than likely the RD is seeding the waves tomorrow or Friday night (depending on when entries close).

In the event you are unable to be accommodated you still have the option of starting in the last wave.... it's just that your official swim time could be extraordinarily long. If you do not want to do that, you can always swim wide. Assuming the course is a bing counter clockwise loop, line up and swim on the right hand edge towards the back. This will keep you out of the wash machine and out of the faster swimmers in the following wave.

 

[John VN]

Thank you for the replies. Will contact RD.

If you read about the level of the Gulf of Mexico going down next month, it will be from me swallowing all that salt water. I've been training in our County pool and just received perscription goggles. What a difference it makes being able to see! Can finally get out into the Gulf to train and hoping that the bouyancy of the saltwater will help out.

 

[cewait]

The cool thing about many GOM tris is that you are swimming along the coast with the current. You are just outside the breakers and well within site of land.

Do practice sighting. This is the toughest thing to do in the heat of a tri swim. It will keep you from following the incorrect set of feet and ending up off course.

I think you will do fine.

 

[sunshine girl]

Definitely hang back, and if you can't be in the last wave, then be cautious of the next wave of swimmers -- plot your course to stay out of the way, even if it means extra swimming.

Whether you are in the front or back, you have the potential to get hit/kicked... stronger swimmers are forceful and will plow through whatever's in the way, but the weaker swimmers at the back are often less controlled in their movements and can really nail you with an errant kick/stroke.

If you are recovering from broken bones, you want to be really careful! Give yourself a wide berth if you can. And good luck, triathlons are so fun!!