Human Race Event Management

Swim Kit

All of our events are open-water swims. Open water swimming is very different to swimming in a clear warm swimming pool, but with the right preparation and practice you don't need to worry! You'll need the following kit to get going:

Swim Cap
A swim cap serves several functions: it helps us keep track of you, it helps keep your head warm and it lowers water resistance and saves you vital seconds in the water. You will need to buy one to train in although you will be provided with one at our events to race in.

Wetsuit
We are often asked if wetsuits have to be worn at our races. But the wearing of wetsuits in triathlon is governed by British Triathlon rules and is totally dependent on water temperature one hour before the start of the race.

Water temp = less than 14 degrees
- wetsuits are COMPULSORY 

Water temp = between 14 degrees and 22 degrees
- wetsuits are OPTIONAL (ie you can choose whether to wear one or not). 

Water temp = above 22 degrees
- wetsuits are BANNED 

We do say that wetsuits in fact help with buoyancy and warmth, so we strongly recommend that you wear one if they are optional. We will keep you updated with water temperature as we get closer to the event. Whilst any type of wetsuit (long, short, sleeveless, etc) is ok we would recommend swimming in a triathlon wetsuit. They are designed not only to keep you warm, but also for swimming in whereas general purpose suits (like those for surfing) can actually make it harder!

There are some great wetsuits on sale and hot deals on offer this season. Wetsuits provide more buoyancy than swimming without, resulting in faster swim times.  

We would recommend that you practice swimming in you wetsuit before you race. There are a number of open water swim sessions available.

Goggles
Are an absolute must to enable to see where you're going and will make a notable difference to your swim. Many triathletes race in contact lenses, but it is vital that your goggles don't leak!

Which goggle is right for you?
The trick to getting a good pair of goggles is selecting a model that fits your face and your eyes, and of course makes you look the business in the water!

Step 1 - Seal
To test the fit you should firstly apply the goggle to the face without the strap in place and test the seal the goggle provides. If a split second of suction is provided then you have a strong indication of a good fit (careful of those eye balls though, goggles are known to have awesome suction!)

Myth: Tightening the strap will ensure your goggles give a good fit.
Fact: The goggle straps sole purpose is to hold the goggle in position, not to provide the seal. Adjustment of the strap may be necessary, however avoid the temptation to pull the strap too tight, this will simply create uncomfortable pressure on the delicate eye area, not to mention unsightly panda eye effect!

Step 2 - Fit
Once you have found a good seal you should fit the headstrap by careful adjustment and then focus on two areas:

• Comfort around the nosebridge, the goggle should sit comfortably around the nose and create a good seal.

• Seal around the eye should sit comfortably and not wrap too far around the corner of the eye. This can be tricky to gauge so use mirrors to check for gaps.

Step 3 – Style
We always recommend trying 2-3 different models, this will help you compare fit, comfort and validate your purchase decision.