Wetsuit recommendations?

[KSH]

Hey TripleFire... you sound a lot like me!

I use to swim competively as a "kid" (until I was 18, I am 33 now). I averaged 18 MPH on my last tri (around 12 miles). And I get side cramps when I run!

Unfortunately, I had a side cramp when I ran in my last tri! Oh well.

Yea, I was so scared of the lake swim, so I went to an open water swim clinic (with 4 different classes). Going and doing that really calmed my fears about swimming open water in tri's.

Then, in my last tri... I just stayed on the outside and swam away from the group, but still going where I needed to. I didn't get hit or mangled... until I hit the end, and the guy who kicked me on the hand... apologized (he didn' even know he kicked a girl)! Not typical, I know!

Yea, next year my goal is to do an Olympic distance triathlon. I figured out that I am better at distances, instead of sprinting. We will see how that works out.

[TripleFire]

Thanks for the kind words, Trekhawk. I just registered for a tri on 9/18 so I'll let you know how it goes.

KSH, we really do have similar experiences! I checked out your post and pics on your first tri back in June I kept thinking "me too!" Congrats on doing so well in the event. I'm 38 and swam on a team in the summers (and some winters) until I was around 15 back in NY where I grew up.

I did a little research on the side cramps and getting them on your right side is pretty common. It seems to be related to the liver getting all jostled around when you run and the positioning of the diaphragm. One of the things that's recommended is breathing out when your left foot hits the ground and really concentrating on controlling your breathing. Easier said than done, although last night when I went running I got a cramp almost immediately and just kept focusing on deep breaths and it went away after a few miles.

I'm totally going to stay as far to the outside as possible on my next tri. I ordered a wetsuit off of TE today so I hope to be able to go to the lake and practice a few times before the event. Went to the gym today and swam a mile but as you know it's just so much different in a pool.

Good for you for setting an Olympic distance as a goal. It sounds like you'll do great!