FAQ

How far is the swim in the Ludlow Triathlon?

½ mile, from the beach out to the cove (you can see a house with an American flag on a tall pole) then back to the beach.

How many laps is a ½ mile?

½ mile = 880 yards. A lap (shallow end to deep end) is 25 yards. So a ½ mile would be 35.2 laps.

How cold is the water?

In 2003 the water temperature a week before the triathlon was 62°F. During the week, the water warmed up to 65-66°F for the triathlon.

In 2004 the water temperature May 15^th was 69°F and on May 22^nd was 71°F.

In 2005 the water temperature was in the low 70s, however it was a very warm day. The swim could easily been completed without a wetsuit.

In 2006 the water temperature May 28^th was 69°F, May 30 was 74°F and June 3^rd 72°F (after rain). I swam the day before the race (June 3^rd) without a wetsuit and felt comfortable.

How cold is 66°F? Can I wear only a bathing suit?

Some people have no problem swimming for 15-20 minutes in 66°F water. The higher your Body Mass Index, the better you will be able to withstand the cold.

If you only wear a bathing suit and you are cold for the race, you will use up a lot of energy to stay warm. If you have not spent a lot of time swimming in cold water, I would recommend a wetsuit for your swim.

What kind of wetsuit should I wear?

There are many different kinds of wetsuits. Scuba Diving wetsuits will keep you warm but definitely do not use them to swim the triathlon. Scuba Diving wetsuits have a lot of space to collect water. Each gallon of water is 8 lbs of extra weight. Wetsuits used for water skiing could be used, but you need to make sure they are tight fitting. Also, you should make sure you will be comfortable swimming in the suit. Finally, there are wetsuits made for open water swimming. They are expensive ($200-$400), but they will fit you like a glove. They will keep you warm and they will only allow a small amount of water in. If you do not want to buy a wetsuit, you can rent one from “FIRM” the company that runs the triathlon.

How often should I swim to get prepared for the triathlon?

It depends on your swimming level and your goals. If you are new to swimming, I would recommend swimming 3 times a week, ¾-1 mile each workout. It is important to work on your swim technique early rather than attempting to maximize your distance per workout. If you have experience swimming, 2 times a week will keep you in shape to finish the swim, but if you want to decrease your time 3-4 times a week will be necessary. Regardless of your level, you should be able to finish ¾ mile without stopping before the triathlon.