Tankini for tri shirt?

[spotlightmama]

Life after two kids means that I *have* to wear a tourniquet, uh I mean sports bra :p under my tri shirt - no way around it.

Since my purchases are quickly adding up, I was wondering - can't I just wear a tankini bathing suit top for the tri? All of the tri shirts I have looked at are about 85% nylon and 15% spandex (give or take) - as long as I find a blend like that, shouldn't it work?

This would be a much more affordable solution, but I don't know if I'm not thinking of some major benefit of a tri shirt. BTW, it's a spring tri, so I don't need pockets or anything.

Thoughts?

[HillSlugger]

Sure. There's nothing sacred/required as far as "tri-specific" clothing!

[Veronica]

My tankini tops aren't nearly as supportive as I would like for a run.

V.

[spotlightmama]

My tankini tops aren't nearly as supportive as I would like for a run.

V.

Oh my gosh, definitely not! That would not be a pretty sight to see me running in only a tankini, lol! Even if I buy a tri shirt, I would be wearing my Shock Absorber sports bra underneath. I don't care how good the shirt is - I need some serious support.

That's why I was thinking, why not just wear a tankini top (since I don't need the support of a tri shirt anyways)?

BTW, can I just say that the Shock Absorber sports bra is the best thing on the entire planet??

[Veronica]

I get it now - tankini with bra underneath. :p

Practice in it, to make sure it's comfy.

V.

[Tri Girl]

That's a great idea! I'd never thought of that. Duh! :D

[teawoman]

Do you mean wear it for the swim over your sports bra? It might chafe in icky spots when it's wet, so give it a try first. Jump in the pool, swim a bit, jump out and go for a run.

[KnottedYet]

You don't *have* to wear anything special for a tri. Tri suits, tri tops, tri shorts; none of that is mandatory.

I did my first tri without any of those.

Spent a grand total of $125 for my "tri" gear: a pair of goggles and a wetsuit. Everything else was just whatever I already had that worked and I liked.

Wear your tankini in good health! :D

Edit to add: I bought my first pair of tri shorts a couple months ago. Still not sure if I like them enough to wear in a tri. We'll see...

[spotlightmama]

I ended up purchasing a rash guard for the race. It's the same blend as all the tri tops I looked at and it's purty. :p I have a huge back piece that I was nervous about leaving out in the sun and the rash guard has SPF 50+ built in. I ran in it today - no chafing, but it was a bit warm (then again, I was running on the beach in Florida, so that doesn't help, lol).

I wouldn't do anything longer in the rash guard, but hopefully it will be fine for the sprint tri.