"First timer" start wave? Help me decide!
ephiemarie
Posts: 264 Member
I did a sprint tri last year with a pool swim, although I'm not sure whether it qualifies as a "real" triathlon. The original event actually was canceled by our sponsoring gym due to lack of registrants, so a handful of local triathletes helped make it happen anyhow, mostly so newbies like myself could give it a shot. There were 8 individual athletes and 2 teams, so a very, very small event.
This year I'd like to do an event with an open water swim, which will first require me to get over my HUGE fear of swimming in lakes/rivers. Seriously, I can't even put my face into a lake without my heart pounding like crazy! I was able to snorkel in Mexico a few years ago though, which gives me some degree of hope. I plan to join up with some of the local triathletes for their weekly swims in my area over the summer.
Anyhow, this tri that I'm thinking of registering for has a start wave option for "first timers," beginning 12 minutes after the female wave. Considering the very high potential for me freaking out, I feel like I should consider signing up for this wave. I can choose to have my time judged within my age group OR the entire co-ed first timer group.
I don't want to cop out since I've kind of already done a tri and am not technically a first timer, but I also don't want to doggy paddle the entire swim and have a miserable experience. What would you do in my shoes?
This year I'd like to do an event with an open water swim, which will first require me to get over my HUGE fear of swimming in lakes/rivers. Seriously, I can't even put my face into a lake without my heart pounding like crazy! I was able to snorkel in Mexico a few years ago though, which gives me some degree of hope. I plan to join up with some of the local triathletes for their weekly swims in my area over the summer.
Anyhow, this tri that I'm thinking of registering for has a start wave option for "first timers," beginning 12 minutes after the female wave. Considering the very high potential for me freaking out, I feel like I should consider signing up for this wave. I can choose to have my time judged within my age group OR the entire co-ed first timer group.
I don't want to cop out since I've kind of already done a tri and am not technically a first timer, but I also don't want to doggy paddle the entire swim and have a miserable experience. What would you do in my shoes?
0
Replies
-
My first year I did a race with a "newbie" wave. It was my third tri of the year, but I figured I still qualified as a newbie. While I would say that most triathletes are generally nice and welcoming, I did find some comfort in starting with a group of women that were all pretty much as new and as nervous as I was. In this particular race it was the last wave to get in the water. The down side of that is waiting and waiting to start, and then being one of the last to finish. But on the upside, there was no worries about the super fast people in the wave behind you catching up and swimming over you. Regardless of what wave you start with, hang to the back at the start to avoid some of the chaos.0
-
After five tris in two years, I would still LOVE to start with a newbie wave, just because my swimming is so poor. I don't really see any downside, given that you have some nerves about it.0
-
How big is the "non-newbie" wave? I'm not a newbie, but the swim is by far my weakest leg so I tend to start at the back. If the main wave is <50 women, I'd say go with the main pack. If it's bigger, starting with the less experienced group may be a better option if only so the kayakers can keep a better watch on you. If you are stronger on the bike and/or run, part of the fun of leaving the water later is playing catch-up for the rest of the race.0
-
tri4life854 wrote: »If you are stronger on the bike and/or run, part of the fun of leaving the water later is playing catch-up for the rest of the race.
So much this.0 -
It looks like there were about 150 females in the non-newbie wave last year. I signed up for the first timer wave. The bike and run are definitely my stronger areas, so it'll be a fun challenge to play catch-up with the rest of the pack. Thanks for your advice!0
-
the only way you'll get over your fear is to just keep doing it. if there is a tri community in your area, consider joining a club, or at the very least an open-water swim clinic.
you're a newbie, even if you've done a triathlon before. i feel that i'm still a newbie, even after four years of triathlon. i have a swimming background, and only got over my anxiety of open water swimming with a group this past season.
good luck.0 -
I only have one year under my belt, but several races. It seemed to me that, however the swim start was organized, there were always plenty of people fudging/manipulating their starting placement. Sometimes just so they could race alongside a friend. The only time anybody seemed to care was in a pool/lap swim when a weak swimmer would fudge their starting time and hold everybody else up. I had this happen in my very first triathlon and it sucked as I had to essentially tread water behind a pack of these people that had obviously misrepresented their swim paces. I can't see how you could go wrong going the other way though. Maybe if you were a strong swimmer, started toward the back, and were just rudely swimming over people. As long as you are not rude, I don't think anybody cares. Just go out there and make the event as enjoyable as you can. Good luck and have fun!0
-
I'm still a newbie, having only done 3 sprint events, but I've changed my thinking on where to be in the swim start. (for the recored, I swim in the old guys wave). Since I am a marginal swimmer at best, I started my first race at the back of my wave to avoid the scrum as much as possible. I survived my first swim even though it wasn't very pretty. In my second and third races, I moved right into the middle of the pack to see if the crowd bothered me at all. I was ok there, even though I'm slow and I felt some minor incidental contact with other swimmers. What I also found, though, was a potential benefit. I believe there is a minor "drafting effect" from following right in the wake of a faster swimmer. Seems like my times improved and I was less winded upon exiting the water. Could have been just my conditioning improved, but I doubt that was the only factor helping my time.
0 -
There is a subtle drafting effect in the swim but my guess is you were just a better swimmer. Sighting and beathing came easier which in turn makes you worry less. Way to go!0
This discussion has been closed.