In the sport of triathlon, there is no question as to which sport most people struggle with. Outside of swimming, cycling and running, swimming causes people the most problems by far. Whether it’s terrible form, anxiety in the water, or poor upper body strength, any weakness in swimming is tripled. If you have bad running form, you can still get by; even more so with cycling. If you’re a lousy swimmer, this will make you fight the resistance of the water much more than necessary. It’s not unusual to see super athletes clear marathons with ease without being able to swim two laps in the pool without stopping.

Besides getting some swim training to help correct your form, there may be something else you can do that can make the difference between quitting mid-swim or finishing strong with energy to spare for the next two events in the race. .

If you are a poor swimmer or a triathlon beginner, listen to this… You MUST buy a wetsuit if you plan to compete. A good wetsuit will allow full range of motion in the shoulders, chest, and legs while providing maximum buoyancy. When you float higher in the water, you’ll go faster and save energy, period.

So now you know you need a wetsuit, but what kind, what brand, when should you wear it and how much should you spend?

USAT guidelines state that everyone can wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is 78 degrees or below. You may wear a wetsuit if the temperature is 79-84 degrees, but you will not be eligible for prizes. Any temperature 85 degrees and above, no wetsuits allowed.

So if the water level is 78 or below, wear a wetsuit, even on a short distance run. You will be much faster in a wetsuit and you will save energy. Of course you also have to deal with taking it off in transition-1 to the bike, but if you get plenty of practice it will more than make up for the extra time in transition.

For those who are not good swimmers, wetsuits can (and should) give you more confidence. Have you ever tried swimming underwater in your wetsuit? If not, try it sometime. You’ll pop like a cork! This is great for someone who is afraid of drowning.

Second, make sure you have a triathlon suit. It’s fun to see people wearing their bodyboards, surfs, or even their SCUBA wetsuits. These are not made for our sport. So don’t go looking in the garage for your old surf suit, that won’t do. These are too thick and will limit your mobility and speed in the water.

Third, it doesn’t really matter which brand you get. The main concern is whether or not it fits. You can spend all the money in the world on the best wetsuit, but if it doesn’t fit right, it will set you back. It should be snug, but should not restrict your breathing or suffocate you around the neck. Too loose and the water will get in and slow it down. If you try one brand and it doesn’t fit, try another. With so many options, you’ll find one that fits the bill.

Fourth, I like the full arms style of the wetsuits. I used to have a long johns style, which means I had long legs, but no sleeves. I thought the long sleeves would limit my stroke, but they don’t. In fact, according to the manufacturer (Quintana Roo), long sleeves actually help you go faster because they increase the water that “traps” your arm as you go. It really is up to you which type you get. Just try a few and see which one you like best.

Finally, triathlon is a very mental sport. If that carbon fiber frame makes you think you’re going faster, you are. If your new running shoes make you think you’re going faster, you are. And if your wetsuit makes you think you’re going faster, you do.