{"id":600,"date":"2022-04-22T20:58:10","date_gmt":"2022-04-23T00:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/egghunttriathlon.com\/?page_id=600"},"modified":"2022-04-22T20:58:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-23T00:58:10","slug":"swim","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/egghunttriathlon.com\/index.php\/swim\/","title":{"rendered":"Swim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Q. Will the swim be a mass start? Q. What about water quality?<\/strong> Q. Do I need to bring a swim cap? Q. Do you have to wear the swim cap? Q. Will wetsuits be allowed on the swim? Q. How do I sight the swim buoys? Q. What is it like to swim in open water? Q. Can I use a snorkel? Q. Can I use swim fins on my feet? Q. Can I use any stroke in the swim portion? Q. If I hang onto the lane lines or buoys, will I be disqualified for doing so? Q. What additional equipment will be permitted in the swim? Q. What is a ‘wave’?<\/strong> Q. What is the swim start like? Q. What time does my wave start?<\/strong> Q. If I need help in the swim what do I do?<\/strong> Q. What if I can not finish the swim? Can I finish the race? Q. How do I know where to swim? Q. If someone hands me my glasses at the end of the swim, does that violate the “No Help” rule?
<\/strong>A. No, based on our surveys athletes prefer to start in a Time Trial fashion one person at a time. We used to start in waves of 30-150 racers, though most of our races are now in the time trial format. You will still be grouped by age group and gender, in groups of 20-50 athletes with the same color swim cap, and each group will have a time to line up and start so there isn’t 1000 people in line at the same time. Please refer to posted start schedule for each individual race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A. The water quality is tested prior to each race to ensure that the bacteria count is at safe levels as determined by the governmental agency in charge of that body of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. No. Swim caps will be provided in your race packet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. Yes, you must wear the swim cap provided by the race as it is used to help organize the participants into the appropriate waves or groups. If you are allergic to latex, please notify a race official that you are unable to wear the cap so that you won\u2019t be penalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. It depends on the water temperature at the venue. Established rules will be followed. If the water temperature is 78 F or below, wetsuits will be allowed. Between 78 F and 84 F, wetsuit use is permitted; however, athletes wearing them will start in a separate wave and will not be eligible for awards or rankings. Above 84 F, wetsuit use is prohibited. Generally from June to October in Florida there are no wetsuits. April, May, and November races are on the border and could go either way. December through March races are typically wetsuit legal. Google the surf temperature in the area of your race to see the current surf temperature. The USAT official measures it race morning and it is usually a degree or 2 below the average that early. If you have a wetsuit then bring it and put it in your trunk. If it is wetsuit legal then you’ll have it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. Ideally you sight as part of your swim stroke by rolling your eyes forward every few strokes. How often you sight depends largely on how straight you swim. You can also simply follow someone that you have determined is sighting well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. The biggest difference between swimming in open water and training in a pool is that there are no lane lines! And there is no side to hang on to if you get tired. Some open water courses are out-and-back, and others look more like a loop. Either way, the course is marked with buoys. It is important to sight (look up and see where you are) every so often so you swim fairly straight. Most triathlons will have safety canoes and kayaks out on the water, along with lifeguards. If you ever feel like you’re having trouble during the swim, just wave your hands and a rescue boat will be at your side soon. Open water swimming can sometimes be wavy or choppy, depending on weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. Actually, yes. Since it does not propel you forward, the use of a snorkel is allowed under rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. No, that would be an unfair advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. You may use any stroke that allows you to see the buoys and stay on course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. You may stop and rest during the swim, but you must not interfere with the progress of other swimmers. You may hang onto the guard boats or buoys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. Aqua socks, socks, snorkels and swim mask or goggles will be allowed in the swim leg of the event. Use of fins, gloves and flotation devices is prohibited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A. The swim is organized by “waves” that is one or more division’s start at specific times with 3-5 minutes in-between. Wave start times are posted at packet pickup. You must start in your wave according to rules or result in a time penalty. Waves are organized by swim cap color, so it is important for you to wear the swim cap given to you at packet pickup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. If there is a wave start and you go with the pack, be prepared for being kicked and poked during the initial minutes, plus you will be doing it to others. If you want to avoid that experience and aren\u2019t particular about your swim time, simply let the pack start ahead of you or start out on the outer edges of the pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A. Wave start times will be posted at packet pickup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A. There will be plenty of lifeguards on duty. Take your brightly colored swim cap off and wave it in the air to summon help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. Yes, you may finish the race but you will be disqualified for not finishing the entire course. Please report yourself to the timing trailer immediately after finishing the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. The swim will be marked with buoys in the water. If it is an ocean swim you usually swim with the current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>A. No, but they will not be allowed in the swim exit chute and will have to stand behind the fence lining the start or the run to transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n