Shopping is a love hate relationship that I am learning is one of the biggest parts of triathlon, next to training, eating, and sleeping! One of the main big ticket items that I get to invest in is a wetsuit!!
It's a big investment, and when I started looking, I really had no idea what I was looking for. In my obsession with souring all of the triathlon race websites, I luckily came across an awesome promo code for Xterra wetsuits and started doing my research. Before I bought one, though, the awesome folks at Concept Cyclery let me try on some past seasons suits to potentially buy on the cheap.
So on a warm thursday afternoon, just before a trainer class, I made my first attempt at wriggling into a wetsuit...not an easy task, let me tell you! I spent about 15 minutes inching my way into the wetsuit, seriously starting to sweat about 1/2 way through. By the time I finally got my arms and legs in, I thought that there was no way I had the correct size...it must be too small. Luckily, Rachelle from Concept was at the store to render her opinion. As I waddled out of the fitting room to make sure she agreed that it was too small, she immediately said it was too big!!!! I couldn't believe it. She had me squat and bend and lift my arms and was soooo helpful showing me all the places that it was too big, where water would enter and slow me down. Thank goodness she did, because otherwise I would have invested in a very expensive anchor!
Unfortunately, none of the wetsuits at Concept fit, but at least I knew what to look for in picking the right size. So I scoured the size chart for the Xterra wetsuits and the try on/return policy, punched in my discount code, and the next day, my wetsuit was in the mail. The Xterra site is incredibly helpful, and their return policy looks great...unfortunately I'll have to actually put it to use, but more on that later.
The day my wetsuit arrived was super exciting, and I couldn't wait to get home from work to try it on. I took it out of it's packaging like it was going to break! I didn't want to put any scratches on the neoprene or get it dirty at all!! But I was nervous to try it on...not quite sure why...probably because I knew how difficult it would be to put on! I locked it in our guest bedroom so that the pups wouldn't get too curious for the next few days until I got the courage to squeeze myself in. When I finally worked up the courage, it was far easier than I remembered, which was not a good sign :(
I have learned that if it is the right size, a wetsuit should be the hardest thing to get into, and have absolutely no gaps between the suit and my skin. Well, this one fit better than the other one that I had tried on, there was still a big gap between my lower back and the suit, which the Xterra sizing page says is a sign that the suit is too big. Major Bummer!!
Just to be sure though, I was determined to test it out in the water, and also get my feet wet (pun intended ;) with actually swimming in a lake! I have heard and read lots of horror stories of people having panic attacks because the murky water, etc. and I wanted to check on that fear before I actually raced!!!
Luckily, the Quarry Lakes Park in Fremont has a lake that is open year round for the crazy people like me who decide to hop in the water in the middle of winter. (I know that it's not actually the middle of winter anymore, but it was overcast, cold and windy, which is like winter for my sissy blood!) So I headed over there around 10 am. As I drove, my nerves were definitely creeping in and I was NOT excited about the prospect of freezing cold water and a potential panic attack.
I arrived at the park, explained to the attendant what I was planning on doing and asked for directions to the swimming area. As she directed me to the "beach", she claimed "oh there's other people swimming too." Ummmm, not true! I parked near the swim area and scoped out the area. The only person around was a volunteer tending to the roses. The beach and the water were DESERTED!! The sand had weeds growing in it, the lake was low enough that the first set of buoys was laying on the sand, and the grass looked like it hadn't been mowed in months. NOT the ideal "first open water swim" experience.
But I was determined to test out the wetsuit and get my butt in the water before my first race (which is this weekend - AHHHH). At my car in the completely empty parking lot, next to the BART tracks, I stripped down to my bathing suit and wriggled into the wetsuit. As I started my trek down to the water, the sun started to peak out, and I actually started feeling hot....maybe the whole wetsuit thing is true and actually keeps you warm?? Two geese were hanging by the water when I finally made it down and I just hoped that they would ignore the crazy lady in the wetsuit.
After I put on my swim cap and goggled, I finally inched my way towards the water. I put my feet in - not too bad. I kept walking - ok, I'm not freezing. I got to the second set of buoys and realized that I had to put my head under - ok deep breath, not too bad! I was amazed at how warm the wetsuit actually kept me, and how floaty I felt! Then came the best part - I peed in my wetsuit! Note to self...make sure to hold it on race day to make my wetsuit warm :)
The wetsuit definitely expanded in the water, and I'm pretty sure it's too big, but I still needed to see how the swimming thing was going to go...unfortunately the "swim" portion of a race isn't just bobbing up and down in a wetsuit for a few minutes. I swam 4 lengths of the swim section of the lake - No Panic Attack - Yay!! I did see some fish and the abandoned red solo cup, but felt good for the swim...and FAST! I definitely felt like I was cruising along way faster than normal, probably due in part to the current, but also to the suit.
All in all, pretty stoked about the swim part of the race now that I have tested the unknown. I did order a smaller wetsuit and will try it on to compare with the current one I have before returning this one. Hopefully the Xterra returns are seamless! I'll be training through the race this weekend - only "tapering" on friday so I'm not going into the race sore, but I can't wait to actually call myself a TRIATHLETE after Saturday!
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