faster swimming in pool or open water?

You will probably be 5-15 seconds per hundred slower in open water than you were in the pool.

Have you ever swam in open water before? If not, it doesn't matter how much pool time you have, they're not the same. Get in a practice swim before the start. It is a completely different animal.

wow i thought faster based on momentum. going to do an open water practice this week. thanks.

For a first go at OWS whats a good distance  to attempt then? I see many people say swim along the shore so it doesnt matter but if a person does between .6-1mile per go in the pool whats a good target?

Don't do that to yourself the first swim. Go swim. Don't have any pre-set stuff, just get a feel for it.

I guess that sounds a bit melodramatic but for all the "HOLY COW I freaked out. I have no idea what happened" posts I read, it's a real phenomenon.

Go out and screw around a bit in the water at first then see about doing 100 yds. Then see about 200 yds. Then 300 yds. Etc. It's very real training even if you don't have a set distance before you start.

First of all, definitely get in a few OW swims in before the event, with the wetsuit and, if possible, at the lake/pond/ocean where the swim is taking place--get used to sighting, get used to any waves or currents that might be present, get used to swimming without the handy lane lines.  As was mentioned, it's a completely different animal, if I hadn't done a few practice runs before my first tri I could definitely see freaking out in all the commotion.

Now, that said, if you're wearing a wetsuit and you have a little time to get comfortable in the open water then you might find you're faster in an OWS than in a pool.  I do slow open turns in the pool and I've found that the constant rythym in the open water helps keep everything in line for me.  During a triathlon, when you're tossed around a bit, maybe kicked a few times and sighting is considerably difficult, I'd say they even out.  I might be an exception to the rule, but I'm definitely faster in the open water and it isn't even close (1:50-1:52 for 1600 in the pool; 1:35-1:37 in OWS).

Several issues might make the OWS slower:

1. Your breathing might be throw off by the turbulence of other swimmers.
2. Your concentration might be throw off by being kicked, bumped, or swam over.
3. You may be slowed by other swimmers who start off strong, and then decided to turn on their backs and do the backstroke or the breast stroke. At that point, you'll have to expend energy and distance to go around them.
4. Difficulty sighting and therefore not taking the direct approach to the buoy.
5. Hyperventillating
6. Panicking.
7. Cramping



Several issues might make the OWS faster:

1. Adrenaline of the race.
2. Wet suit, but probably not that much in a sprint tri.
3. Possible drafting behind someone swimming at your pace (if you can sight properly).

I am finding myself going over to the dark side...I'm really starting to like OWSs. Did a tri in the local river (Susquehanna). The water was a little higher than normal due to same recent rain, and there was a good wind which caused a rather strong current. Strong current + wetsuit gave me an insane PB swim time; .75 miles in around 12 minutes!

Just got back from OBX, and did some swimming in the ocean. Except for the days when it was a little too choppy, I enjoyed the time in the salt water.

There are no natural interruptions with OWS, no flip turns to worry about. I admit that a lot of time is spent trying to sight, and there is a chance of wandering off away from the intended finish area, but you can potentially really get a nice, comfortable stroke going in an OWS.