To say that a triathlon swimsuit is a fancy version of a regular swimsuit is like saying a triathlon swimmer is just a fancy version of a kid with water wings in a backyard pool. The serious athlete buys the triathlon wetsuit because it makes a real difference in swimming speed. How?

- Materials. Neoprene, and similar materials, exert a much lower “drag” in the water. The swimmer glides much better, almost as though the water were a native environment.

- Thickness. Triathlon wetsuits, at least at the high end, are not a uniform thickness. The torso part of the suit should be thicker to help the swimmer float higher in the water, and the arms and shoulders should be thinner, and therefore more flexible, to help the swimmer move faster.

- Construction. Unlike a regular swimsuit, a triathlon suit doesn’t allow any water inside. A loose neck opening, or floppy wrist opening, would act as water scoops were it not for tight seals. A competitive athlete doesn’t want the weight or the drag.

How these things are executed vary from brand to brand, but those are the basic features that separate the sharks from the fish.

• What Kind of Swimsuit Should You Use? [caption id="attachment_368" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Eenie, Meenie, Minnie, Moe..."][/caption]There are usually two schools of thought when it comes to swimwear: either you slap on a normal bathing suit and go out for a quick dip, or you try to find the absolute best in swimwear to optimize your performance. But depending......
• San Francisco Bay Leopard Shark [pic] Last Friday (the only day that wasn't perfect weather for 6 days in either direction) I was interviewing a candidate for a job with my company.  The candidate was from the east coast so I thought it would be fun to take them out for a cruise and some fishing on......
• First Triathlon Fashion for Women Dressing for your first triathlon can be a challenge. It's easy enough to dress to go running, but you'll be cycling and swimming, too, so do you choose one outfit for all three races, or change each time? The time you take between events counts toward your overall time so......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
• The Top 15 Online Fitness Resources 1. Crossfit.com Crossfit popularity has exploded over the last year.  Dozens of affiliates seem to be opening on a monthly basis and the community is expanding faster than a sub 2 minute Fran.  But it's no surprise - Crossfit runs under an "open source" mantra and provides a seriously massive......

• Triathlon training – where to start Training for a triathlon – even a short triathlon – requires a commitment of time and effort. Assuming that you are already at least competent at running, cycling and swimming, the most important thing is...