Tri Zones Training

This question came to me from hungrytritiger (with permission to post here):

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I'm really interested in becoming a triathlete. Studying all the gear. Maybe will sign up for danskin. My biggest concern is that I wear glasses. I don't think going blind from swimming to wearing contacts in a transition will cut it. What's the norm for myopic triathletes?

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Here was my response to her:

There are lots of triathletes who wear glasses, and they have several options:
- Those who wear contacts can usually wear them throughout the race. They wear goggles during the swim, and the contacts work just fine with the goggles.

- Those who wear eyeglasses have several options as well --
- Some can swim (with goggles) and see well enough while in the water. As soon as they finish the swim, they have a friend or family member meet them and hand them their eyeglasses. Some races even have a
table just for glasses, but I know Danskin usually doesn't. Then they can wear their glasses up to transition and then for the bike and run.
- Some have troubles seeing while in the water, so they wear prescription goggles. These can be found at Lane Four Swim Shop for about $20 (very reasonable!). I'm not sure if they can just wear the goggles all the way up to transition and then have their eyeglasses waiting for them with their other gear, or if they still have a friend
meet them at swim exit with their glasses.
- Many triathletes who wear glasses will wear prescription sunglasses in lieu of their eyeglasses for the bike and run, or they may have some prescription clip-on's that they can wear over their eyeglasses (already clipped on, before they start the race).

If you wear glasses, let us know how it all works for you!