Pool vs Open Water Racing

We want your first race to be ace, so it’s worth taking the time to look around and see what’s out there and the different varieties of races available to you.

Getting that first race experience right is going to make or break your triathlon journey. It’s one you are going to remember for the rest of your life. And it’s one that, when enjoyed, will take you to new levels of enthusiasm and enjoyment.

That’s why we want it to be your BEST experience you could imagine, and we hope these swim-speicifc tips will help you to choose the race that’s 100% right for you. Be sure you read our other “Be Wise Selecting Your Race” posts…(coming soon!)

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Yes, there are more than just 3 sports to consider in Triathlon – and yup, that’s why we often refer to it as the “triathlon world” 🙂 The amazing thing nowadays is that triathlon as a sport is getting more and more popular and therefore there are a growing number of races offering a huge variety of options, that really can suit anyone. Here we want to focus solely on the swim part of the race as it can be one of the biggest factors that determines whether you enjoy (and complete) the race, or not.

First of all, it’s the first sport of the race, so if you don’t manage to complete the swim, you obviously won’t be racing the bike or run sections, which after all your training would be devastating. Secondly, a lot of people don’t have much experience in open-water swimming which can create anxiety and even pannic-attacks during the race if you are not prepared.

So let’s take a look at the different reasons why you might consider selecting a pool race or an open-water one!

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Here are some questions you may want to honestly ask yourself to understand if a swimming pool would be more ideal for your first triathlon race.

Have you swam in open water before? Most importantly, if you have never swum in open water before, don’t let the race be your first-ever time. Apart from it feeling very different and being vulnerable in a big open space, swimming in open water requires a different swim technique to deal with waves, currents, looking up out of the water to see where you must go (ie. sighting) and swimming in a straight line so you don’t end up swimming double the distance.
Are you a confident swimmer? If you aren’t and like to be in safe surroundings, the pool is going to give you that security. In the open water, there will be safety boats and usually kayaks keeping a close eye on the swimmers, but know that there isn’t a wall to hold on to if you need to take a rest.
Do you like to have your own swim space? Open water races often can be quite chaotic with people swimming very closely around you. Your feet may be touched, you may get a nice punch in the face and don’t be alarmed if someone might try to swim on top of you. If you start in the pool, it will be much more orderly with individual-specific start times.
Do you like to see what is beneath you? A pool is your go-to as it’s clear as glass. In open water, nothing is guaranteed. You may be swimming without even seeing your arm enter the water in front of you, it can be that dirty!
Are you competing for the first time? Do you want to avoid buying a wetsuit? If you are trying triathlon for the first time and you’re not sure if you’ll participate in other races, you probably don’t want to spend your money on a wetsuit for just one race. It’s not always obligatory, but even racing in Italy in the summer we have always used a wetsuit, so make sure you check the race rules! There are shops that allow you to rent a wetsuit for the day so it should not be the principal deciding factor for choosing a pool race, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Are you confident swimming in different water temperatures? The pool temperature is always going to be at a comfortable level. In the open water however, the temperature can vary drastically and although there are minimum temperatures event organisers must follow legally, it can still get very cold – even with a wetsuit! Swimming in very cold water therefore can be challenging both mentally and physically and can give your body quite a shock. Mentally you must be prepared for this.
Do you want to be 100% sure you’ll be racing the full swim distance? You have put blood, sweat and tears into training to be able to complete the triathlon distances for the race. A pool swim can assure this. In the open water, there is always a possibility that the course could be shortened or even canceled altogether for safety reasons if the weather is particularly bad or if it’s too windy.

Because the pool swim staggers all the start times, it is hard to understand what position you are in during the race as the person next to you could have started the race much earlier or later than you. Open-water races have different starting styles, some with staggered entries and some mass enteries where everyone runs in together, so here it depends!

Adventure out into the open water

Although it’s not for everyone, we personally love triathlons with an open water swim. And here’s why:

It adds a whole new level of challenge to the race: from the temperature of the water, to contending with the current and the waves, with the unpredictable weather, encourtering the fish (or jellyfish!), whilst trying to swim in a straight line, sighting for the buoy and swimming with many other competitors splashing around you, trying to get ahead. Plus there is always the fun challenge of taking off your wetsuit in the transition…wow, doesn’t it just sound like FUN!
Feeling a true sense of adventure
It’s so much fun racing alongside other athletes.
The fun adrenaline rush helps you to swim even faster! Having other swimmers around you encourages you to give it your all and keep up with their swim pace or stay ahead of them (if you have that competitive edge like us)
Enjoy the drafting game. It can be exciting trying to swim behind someone (it’s called ‘drafting’) to help you save loads of energy, whilst you’re swimming faster than you ever have before! It’s a fantastic game to play…because you need to be sure that the person you are following is swimming in the right direction and not taking you off course. You also need to try to understand if they are holding you back or rather helping you swim faster than you would be if you were swimming solo.
Feel like a fish in your wetsuit. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re in the water. It can be an advantage as it gives you buoyancy and keeps you warm. You might also enjoy looking at your swim times as you may well go faster in comparison to swimming in the pool, with less effort! Once you have your wetsuit, discover how to put your wetsuit on efficiently and properly.
The water entry can be super entertaining! You might be able to dive straight in. Jump in. Bomb in. Slide in. If it’s a beach start, you all head off running into the water together…and a rush of excitement builds! The exit can be fun and challenging too. At times it can be tricky to run in a straight line to the transition area as you can feel a little dizzy.
You can see who you are really racing against. As you will most probably start the race in a wave (in a small group). If the race has many participants, the triathletes will be split into groups with different start times. These are called ‘waves’ and are generally pre-selected by when you register for the race or what you write for your expected swim time – so make sure you have a good idea of what you will be able to swim the distance in or know what race number you are. Knowing who you are racing against can boost your energy and you become more competitive to reach your full potential.
There is a real sense of challenge and excitement! Everyone is there together, you feel part of something unique. You are generally there to challenge yourself, so everyone is super friendly. You start to chat with other athletes before the race, giving each other final supporting comments. When the horn sounds, everyone is off so fast – running into the water, and splashing away – it’s indescribable, but so thrilling.

Just remember, if you have decided to try an open-water race, congratulations! Take a peek at our 10 Secrets to Open-Water Swimming post so you can immediately start enjoying your open-water swimming journey.

Now go and practice outdoors with different temperatures and in different locations so when it comes to race day, you feel prepared and ready!

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

We want your first race to be ace, so it’s worth taking the time to look around and see what’s out there and the different varieties of races available to you.

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

So let’s take a look at the different reasons why you might consider selecting a pool race or an open-water one!

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Here are some questions you may want to honestly ask yourself to understand if a swimming pool would be more ideal for your first triathlon race.

Have you swam in open water before? Most importantly, if you have never swum in open water before, don’t let the race be your first-ever time. Apart from it feeling very different and being vulnerable in a big open space, swimming in open water requires a different swim technique to deal with waves, currents, looking up out of the water to see where you must go (ie. sighting) and swimming in a straight line so you don’t end up swimming double the distance.
Are you a confident swimmer? If you aren’t and like to be in safe surroundings, the pool is going to give you that security. In the open water, there will be safety boats and usually kayaks keeping a close eye on the swimmers, but know that there isn’t a wall to hold on to if you need to take a rest.
Do you like to have your own swim space? Open water races often can be quite chaotic with people swimming very closely around you. Your feet may be touched, you may get a nice punch in the face and don’t be alarmed if someone might try to swim on top of you. If you start in the pool, it will be much more orderly with individual-specific start times.
Do you like to see what is beneath you? A pool is your go-to as it’s clear as glass. In open water, nothing is guaranteed. You may be swimming without even seeing your arm enter the water in front of you, it can be that dirty!
Are you competing for the first time? Do you want to avoid buying a wetsuit? If you are trying triathlon for the first time and you’re not sure if you’ll participate in other races, you probably don’t want to spend your money on a wetsuit for just one race. It’s not always obligatory, but even racing in Italy in the summer we have always used a wetsuit, so make sure you check the race rules! There are shops that allow you to rent a wetsuit for the day so it should not be the principal deciding factor for choosing a pool race, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Are you confident swimming in different water temperatures? The pool temperature is always going to be at a comfortable level. In the open water however, the temperature can vary drastically and although there are minimum temperatures event organisers must follow legally, it can still get very cold – even with a wetsuit! Swimming in very cold water therefore can be challenging both mentally and physically and can give your body quite a shock. Mentally you must be prepared for this.
Do you want to be 100% sure you’ll be racing the full swim distance? You have put blood, sweat and tears into training to be able to complete the triathlon distances for the race. A pool swim can assure this. In the open water, there is always a possibility that the course could be shortened or even canceled altogether for safety reasons if the weather is particularly bad or if it’s too windy.

Adventure out into the open water

Although it’s not for everyone, we personally love triathlons with an open water swim. And here’s why:

It adds a whole new level of challenge to the race: from the temperature of the water, to contending with the current and the waves, with the unpredictable weather, encourtering the fish (or jellyfish!), whilst trying to swim in a straight line, sighting for the buoy and swimming with many other competitors splashing around you, trying to get ahead. Plus there is always the fun challenge of taking off your wetsuit in the transition…wow, doesn’t it just sound like FUN!
Feeling a true sense of adventure
It’s so much fun racing alongside other athletes.
The fun adrenaline rush helps you to swim even faster! Having other swimmers around you encourages you to give it your all and keep up with their swim pace or stay ahead of them (if you have that competitive edge like us)
Enjoy the drafting game. It can be exciting trying to swim behind someone (it’s called ‘drafting’) to help you save loads of energy, whilst you’re swimming faster than you ever have before! It’s a fantastic game to play…because you need to be sure that the person you are following is swimming in the right direction and not taking you off course. You also need to try to understand if they are holding you back or rather helping you swim faster than you would be if you were swimming solo.
Feel like a fish in your wetsuit. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re in the water. It can be an advantage as it gives you buoyancy and keeps you warm. You might also enjoy looking at your swim times as you may well go faster in comparison to swimming in the pool, with less effort! Once you have your wetsuit, discover how to put your wetsuit on efficiently and properly.
The water entry can be super entertaining! You might be able to dive straight in. Jump in. Bomb in. Slide in. If it’s a beach start, you all head off running into the water together…and a rush of excitement builds! The exit can be fun and challenging too. At times it can be tricky to run in a straight line to the transition area as you can feel a little dizzy.
You can see who you are really racing against. As you will most probably start the race in a wave (in a small group). If the race has many participants, the triathletes will be split into groups with different start times. These are called ‘waves’ and are generally pre-selected by when you register for the race or what you write for your expected swim time – so make sure you have a good idea of what you will be able to swim the distance in or know what race number you are. Knowing who you are racing against can boost your energy and you become more competitive to reach your full potential.
There is a real sense of challenge and excitement! Everyone is there together, you feel part of something unique. You are generally there to challenge yourself, so everyone is super friendly. You start to chat with other athletes before the race, giving each other final supporting comments. When the horn sounds, everyone is off so fast – running into the water, and splashing away – it’s indescribable, but so thrilling.

Now go and practice outdoors with different temperatures and in different locations so when it comes to race day, you feel prepared and ready!

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

Be wise selecting your race – let’s talk Swimming!

Fantastic, you have seen a race in a beautiful location – what a great excuse to take a trip out. You might even consider taking off a few more days to relax after. And hey, why not, we do! You are super pumped and ready to book your first triathlon race.

But WAIT! STOP RIGHT THERE and take a read of this quick blog as there are several things you should consider before clicking that submit button.

We want your first race to be ace, so it’s worth taking the time to look around and see what’s out there and the different varieties of races available to you.

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

So let’s take a look at the different reasons why you might consider selecting a pool race or an open-water one!

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Here are some questions you may want to honestly ask yourself to understand if a swimming pool would be more ideal for your first triathlon race.

Have you swam in open water before? Most importantly, if you have never swum in open water before, don’t let the race be your first-ever time. Apart from it feeling very different and being vulnerable in a big open space, swimming in open water requires a different swim technique to deal with waves, currents, looking up out of the water to see where you must go (ie. sighting) and swimming in a straight line so you don’t end up swimming double the distance.
Are you a confident swimmer? If you aren’t and like to be in safe surroundings, the pool is going to give you that security. In the open water, there will be safety boats and usually kayaks keeping a close eye on the swimmers, but know that there isn’t a wall to hold on to if you need to take a rest.
Do you like to have your own swim space? Open water races often can be quite chaotic with people swimming very closely around you. Your feet may be touched, you may get a nice punch in the face and don’t be alarmed if someone might try to swim on top of you. If you start in the pool, it will be much more orderly with individual-specific start times.
Do you like to see what is beneath you? A pool is your go-to as it’s clear as glass. In open water, nothing is guaranteed. You may be swimming without even seeing your arm enter the water in front of you, it can be that dirty!
Are you competing for the first time? Do you want to avoid buying a wetsuit? If you are trying triathlon for the first time and you’re not sure if you’ll participate in other races, you probably don’t want to spend your money on a wetsuit for just one race. It’s not always obligatory, but even racing in Italy in the summer we have always used a wetsuit, so make sure you check the race rules! There are shops that allow you to rent a wetsuit for the day so it should not be the principal deciding factor for choosing a pool race, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Are you confident swimming in different water temperatures? The pool temperature is always going to be at a comfortable level. In the open water however, the temperature can vary drastically and although there are minimum temperatures event organisers must follow legally, it can still get very cold – even with a wetsuit! Swimming in very cold water therefore can be challenging both mentally and physically and can give your body quite a shock. Mentally you must be prepared for this.
Do you want to be 100% sure you’ll be racing the full swim distance? You have put blood, sweat and tears into training to be able to complete the triathlon distances for the race. A pool swim can assure this. In the open water, there is always a possibility that the course could be shortened or even canceled altogether for safety reasons if the weather is particularly bad or if it’s too windy.

Adventure out into the open water

Although it’s not for everyone, we personally love triathlons with an open water swim. And here’s why:

It adds a whole new level of challenge to the race: from the temperature of the water, to contending with the current and the waves, with the unpredictable weather, encourtering the fish (or jellyfish!), whilst trying to swim in a straight line, sighting for the buoy and swimming with many other competitors splashing around you, trying to get ahead. Plus there is always the fun challenge of taking off your wetsuit in the transition…wow, doesn’t it just sound like FUN!
Feeling a true sense of adventure
It’s so much fun racing alongside other athletes.
The fun adrenaline rush helps you to swim even faster! Having other swimmers around you encourages you to give it your all and keep up with their swim pace or stay ahead of them (if you have that competitive edge like us)
Enjoy the drafting game. It can be exciting trying to swim behind someone (it’s called ‘drafting’) to help you save loads of energy, whilst you’re swimming faster than you ever have before! It’s a fantastic game to play…because you need to be sure that the person you are following is swimming in the right direction and not taking you off course. You also need to try to understand if they are holding you back or rather helping you swim faster than you would be if you were swimming solo.
Feel like a fish in your wetsuit. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re in the water. It can be an advantage as it gives you buoyancy and keeps you warm. You might also enjoy looking at your swim times as you may well go faster in comparison to swimming in the pool, with less effort! Once you have your wetsuit, discover how to put your wetsuit on efficiently and properly.
The water entry can be super entertaining! You might be able to dive straight in. Jump in. Bomb in. Slide in. If it’s a beach start, you all head off running into the water together…and a rush of excitement builds! The exit can be fun and challenging too. At times it can be tricky to run in a straight line to the transition area as you can feel a little dizzy.
You can see who you are really racing against. As you will most probably start the race in a wave (in a small group). If the race has many participants, the triathletes will be split into groups with different start times. These are called ‘waves’ and are generally pre-selected by when you register for the race or what you write for your expected swim time – so make sure you have a good idea of what you will be able to swim the distance in or know what race number you are. Knowing who you are racing against can boost your energy and you become more competitive to reach your full potential.
There is a real sense of challenge and excitement! Everyone is there together, you feel part of something unique. You are generally there to challenge yourself, so everyone is super friendly. You start to chat with other athletes before the race, giving each other final supporting comments. When the horn sounds, everyone is off so fast – running into the water, and splashing away – it’s indescribable, but so thrilling.

Now go and practice outdoors with different temperatures and in different locations so when it comes to race day, you feel prepared and ready!

Pool vs Open Water Racing

Published by kellypuffer on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Adventure out into the open water

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Adventure out into the open water

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

Be wise selecting your race – let’s talk Swimming!

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Adventure out into the open water

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

Triathlon Training Tips for Beginners

Racing the Elbaman 70.3: My Half Ironman Experience

Why Training Together Turns Into Friendship

Pool vs Open Water Racing

Published by kellypuffer on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Adventure out into the open water

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Adventure out into the open water

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

Be wise selecting your race – let’s talk Swimming!

Pool, River, Lake or Sea?

Keep cool and stay in the Pool

Adventure out into the open water

Discover our 15 Top Tips we wish we knew for our 1st triathlon...

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