Nice job. I totally understand the need to hit the distance while training at some point. The uncertainty about 2.4 miles is strictly a psychological barrier for anyone who otherwise is diligent in their swim workouts. But it's a barrier nonetheless, so it feels great to bust through it. Now you have one more arrow in your quiver of reasons to believe you can do the whole race well.

Good for you for going the distance! I always over train the swim distance because I've been in a couple of races where the swim has been mismeasured (including one that was close to doubled - fortunately not an IM!) or conditions made it so that it took much longer than anticipated (my IMFL swim took me 5% longer than my pool swims, due to rough water conditions, for instance).

It's a cool mental milestone to hit anyways, just knowing you can do it.

Congrats! That is certainly a confidence boost. Nice job.
I felt really good coming out of the water at IMWI this past year, but that still didn't stop me from nearly doing a facial on the ramp out of the water - but I may just be a klutz! :rolleyes:

I said that?? I must have still been breathing chlorine ;)

Ok ok sometimes they feel awesome... Glad it was a good one for you!

Cool. I too have trouble counting and just have learned what certain distances feel like and what the time should be. So I know for me what a 1:30/100 feels like vs a 1:20. For me, instead of doing a long no stop swim I try to do it in smaller sets with little break so I can really work on my pace. At IMWI I hope to do a 1:20/100 pace, so I am really trying to ingrain what that feels like in perceived effort, so I do a lot of smaller, 500 and under, sets with say 10-30 second rests, depending on the workout. Last week I was short on time but I did 15x100's at a comfortable but fast pace with 10 seconds rest...I could have done another 25 and could have gone faster if I wanted to, but really wanted to try to stick to the same pace for each one. Then end result, 15 100's with not more than 3 seconds between the fastest and the slowest one. (1:18-1:20). This way I am really getting to know what a certain pace feels like, and if my goal of 1:20 gets too slow or becomes too easy then I may try for 1:18 or so on.

Wear the suit...
While you got out of the water "not feeling much at all" you didn't have to launch into 112 on the bike and then a marathon.
Any opportunity to save gas in the beginning will reap benifits in the end.
IM's usually have wet suit "strippers" that help speed up the process and get you on your way...if you have your suit set up correctly.
Make the decision now to wear or not so that you aren't still in angst over this on race morning. I think you should being your first IM and all. You won't be disappointed.

Yeah I am prolly just gonna go ahead and rent one for the race. If I like it I think I am gonna have to pick one up permanately.

Jstyle...you really should pick one up...if you plan on doing many of the other tri's in our area,you'll need it. The water here doesn't really warm up till July and then fall races you'll need them..not to mention things like the Bay Swim and early season open water training...

Buy her a Coach purse! ;)

Ok... or just tell her it will look better on you than a beer gut. And costs less over time than a smoking habit. And maybe take her for a nice dinner out...

Whether you rent or buy, do at least one other 2.4 mile swim wearing it, even if it's in a pool, so you are used to what that feels like being on you for that amount of time. Don't forget the Body Glide especially on the neck, under the arms (both of the suit and whatever you wear underneath, the calves.

Of all the things that can get you for trying them first on a race day, a wetsuit is right up there, so if the rental is expensive to do for another practice swim, well that's just another vote for buying one.