Wetsuit issues

[colby]

I've worn my wetsuit several times in the water, and this time was the first time I really got a lot of freestyle distance in it, instead of relying more on breaststroke (which seems much harder in a wetsuit, too buoyant?). I have a few issues.

First, I'm chafing on the back of my neck, right at my hairline. I did chafe before in my armpits and the back of my legs, and bodyglide solved that (yay!). Will bodyglide solve the back of my neck, is it safe there? Should I do something else?

Second, putting the suit on is murdering my top knuckles, but when I wore gloves I felt like I didn't have the dexterity to pull it up as well as it needs to be pulled. Maybe my knuckles will adjust, but right now a couple of them are missing skin and lightly blistered. I guess they don't like rubbing against the material.

Third, don't forget to put sunblock on your hands. Maybe it will compensate for the bike glove tan. :P

Lastly, especially when I'm in the water, I seem to "feel" the fabric behind my knees even though the suit feels pulled tight. Maybe I need to pull it down around my ankles further? No chafe this time with bodyglide, maybe I just haev to get used to it. I also have extra fabric in my armpits that I'm afraid is contributing to the chafe there, but bodyglide did seem to resolve that too.

I really have to practice taking the thing off. I get the upper body done okay, but when it comes to my lower body... dang. Still debating whether I wear it in my sprint, but I'm leaning toward yes, just because I've been wearing it anyway and I want (have) to train for distances, but I'm concerned about the transition time. I guess it's not like I'm an age grouper as it is, and maybe the time I'll save with the suit on in the water will net out the transition time... maybe every time I take it off, I need to take it off like it's a race.

This is all new to me... sometimes I feel pretty silly. Sometimes I feel like a total poser, especially with the way people stare at me when I get out of the water.

[KSH]

The chaffing behind the neck... use Body Glide there too. No reason not to.

Putting the wetsuit on... I too used gloves so I wouldn't tear the neoprene. Although, it KILLED my knuckles to do so. So, the next time (after I knew the wetsuit was not going back)... I just cut my nails VERY SHORT (nothing hanging over the finger tip) and just pulled it up normally. Worked fine. No issues. I didn't tear anything.

Taking the wetsuit off... the key is to take it off near where you exit the water. If you notice, when you get out of the water, there is a layer of water that flows out of the wetsuit. Once that's gone, it's a struggle to get off. So, once you exit the water... step to the side and take that puppy off. It won't take that long. If you run all the way to transition and do it... it will be harder to get off.

As far as the extra material... well, honestly, the wetsuit sounds like it's a little bit too big in those areas. Not a perfect fit for your body. Just keep using the body glide on those areas. I wonder if trimming the legs would help with the behind the knee bunching?

[colby]

Thanks KSH, our wetsuit fit goddess.

The back of my neck is bright red today, I think it's a combination of sunburn and chafe. I will definitely at LEAST be wearing bodyglide, and hopefully will remember my sunblock.

Good advice about the wetsuit removal. The longer you wait, the harder it is. The hotter it is, the harder it is. I've been starting/finishing on a sandy beach, and I hate to fill that sucker with sand, but there is a wooden dock nearby I could sit on instead. Practice, practice, practice.

I am concerned the extra material means it's not quite sized right for me. It's not terribly uncomfortable, it just doesn't feel perfect. If this were a new suit, I'd probably continue trying others to see how they fit, I just don't have much to compare it to at this point.