Ever since we rang in 2015 I’ve been going on and on about trying a tri. Many of you questioned what a ‘serious, official’ swimsuit was. In my mind it’s one you’d see at the Olympics. No ruffles, skirt or plunging neckline. Definitely not the mom-kini I’ve been sporting.
To purchase my first ‘serious’ swimsuit, I channeled my inner Dara Torres and hit up the most serious, official swim store in the area: Kiefer Swim in Zion, IL. Maybe those of you who swim and tri have heard of it? Its founder, Adolph Kiefer, has a fascinating story. He’s a 1936 Berlin Olympic Swimming Champion. A contemporary of Louis Zamperini of Unbroken fame. At 96 years old, Kiefer still swims daily. Read a really interesting interview with Adolph Kiefer here.
I arrived at Kiefer and explained my plans and need for a serious, officially official suit. The entire store overwhelmed me with possibilities and the lady who helped me is an accomplished triathlete herself. Bless her heart, she didn’t laugh at me. My body dysmorphic issues flared and I insisted on trying suits 3 sizes too large. Thanks to Stacey Kiefer and input from some of my tri friends, I now know that the rule of thumb is to go as tight as possible.
After lots of try-ons, I settled on a really cool one: This Durafast Elite suit from TYR. At least I’ll look good as I flail and gasp, right?
Kiefer was kind enough to give me 20% off and for you too when you use code MA2KRC.
So I took the plunge and hit the pool over the weekend. My new suit was awesome but to say my stroke was a mess would be an understatement. I’m ok for maybe half a (short) pool length before I fall out of the breathing rhythm and it all goes to hell in a hand basket. I’m pretty sure I’m still coughing up pool water. There’s a looooong road ahead but a quitter I am not. I am coming for you….slowly….kind of…Espirit de She Triathlon!
Do you swim? Any tips for learning later in life?
As you well know, I am as scared of the swim part of a TRI as a girl can get, so my advice is to practice with and then wear a wetsuit on race day. The buoyancy is unbeatable and helps (a little) with that whole “What the heck am I doing in water?” feeling. You can rent wetsuits at stores that have running and TRI gear.
Ok, this swimmer is envious of the fact that the actual Keifer store is local to you! And I’m going to read the backstory, too, b/c it sounds pretty cool.
Here’s the thing about swimming: you will be amazed at how quickly you will progress. But I’d say that once you have progressed to a point where you can do about 500 straight, consider a few lessons for improved form. It can make a HUGE difference in efficiency, which in a tri means that you come out of the water with more energy for legs two and three. Enjoy the process!
Yes, take some lessons where you swim, private if you can swing it. It makes all the difference in the world to have someone show you the right way to do it early on, rather than try to change or correct bad habits later. I try to take lessons from someone every year. Also, open water swimming is completely different from pool swimming, so you need to be really confident about your swim ability before getting in open water.
I see so many of my running friends branching out this year with swimming and biking! I hate water in my face/nose, so don’t see this ever being an option for me, but have always wanted to take lesson! Keep us posted!!!
I wish I could swim!! I dog paddle. I know I know. I need to get some swim lessons. I took the first set but didn’t continue on. I can’t get past the cold pool ha. But I have tons of friends who swim and bike and I’m starting to feel left out 🙂
Which one? The green, blue or red? Red makes you fast but that green is gorgeous and blue suits most colourings so you can’t go wrong with any of them.
You’re too legit to quit now! Ha! (Sorry, I am such an 80s kid.) I am so impressed with your push to tri. Do you plan to take a lesson or two to help with your stroke?
My tips for getting into swimming:
1-take a private lesson or two. It is so worth the money for the personalized guidance on how to improve your stroke technique. They should give you some drills to practice to improve on your weakness.
2-Practice as much as possible! Shorter & more frequent swim practices are better because you will build the muscle memory and it will be when you are not too fatigued. (Continuing to practice swimming when you are tired and new to swimming can build bad habits on tired technique).
So glad you found a suit you like.
I’m not a good swimmer. It hurts one of my shoulders. I can float well…on a float. Hee hee. You’ll be awesome!
An official suit brings you one step closer! I don’t swim so as I said before I’m just going live vicariously through you and cheer you on from the sidelines (or is that pool side?)!
There are swimsuits with added buoyancy, which may help, but relaxing in the pool is the best advice.
I know you will make amazing progress as you stay with it on a schedule. Great to have the right suit!
You know the saying “fake it until you make it”? You’ll look fabulous in that suit! People will be admiring how good you look and no one will even notice your stroke–altho I’m sure you’re killing that too!
Good for you going after a tri. I wish I liked to swim. And there’s that whole open water fear thing I have…getting kicked fear…getting pulled under…
I am glad that the folks at Kiefer gave you such great attention and service! Those swimsuits look fierce and they are going to give you a great edge in the water. I am seriously so excited to hear about your tri training because I know that you are going to make rocket-like progress in the coming months. GO MARCIA!!!
These suits look functional and cute! I’ve been wanting to do a tri for quite sometime, but the swimming is what’s holding me back!
Thanks for the good writeup. It if truth be told was once a leisure account it.
Look complicated to more introduced agreeable from you! However,
how can we keep in touch?
Awesome! I learned to swim in 2009 and it was one of the most humbling and humiliating experiences of my life. Buying a real swim suit when I couldn’t swim more than a lap without being gassed didn’t help. Drills are your friend along with going to the pool 3x a week. Stick with it!
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brave woman!! I don’t swim….i mean, I can, but it’s ugly. That’s why the triathlon isn’t my jam. I know I would need to take adult lessons to get better form.
That’s a great suit! I wear the TYR durafast and won’t wear any other suit. Thanks for the discount code; I’m in need of a new one and suits don’t come cheap!