Pool Tri vs. Group OWS

[Tri Girl]

I also agree with doing the open water preview. The more OWS practice you can get, the better. We've done two Splash and Dashes with our tri club the last few weeks. Just to let people who are new to triathlon get a feel for OWS and a race we're having next weekend. So many of the new people commented on how different open water is compared to the pool and they were so glad they did it in a "race simulation."

How fun!!! Have a great time and tell us all about it when you get done!

[Alex]

I learned today that there will be 3 open water swim clinics in the next couple of weeks. (And they're free!) I reserved a spot in two of them. It would be really easy, given the location, to take my bike and take a ride immediately after the clinic. I'm wondering if that would be a good enough race simulation?

The first one is the day before the pool tri closes, so I wouldn't have to decide until then if I want to do the race. OTOH, it might be good to know at the beginning of the week if I'll be racing on Saturday or not.

FWIW, I had a swim lesson today and asked my instructor what he thought. He recommended doing the race so that I would get used to swimming during a race. I suspect he has a point. Bike racing or running gives a sense of performance during competition, but is a bit different than how it would feel to swim in competition.

Do you all think the OWS clinics would be a good race-simulation? I've never been to anything like that.

Thanks!

Alex