Good 1500 Swim Time

Originally posted by clemson05

I would say the question is a little too ambiguous to answer, but I will give it a shot anyway.

If you are a completely new simmer as many adult beginner triathletes are then 2:00/100 yd is probably a good pace to start. There are plenty of people that swim slower than this and still have very good overall times.

I would say the average AG swimmer that has been competing in triathlon for a few years or more and finishes MOP would swim around a 1:40 - 1:45/100 pace. This will not put you in the "elite" category by any means but is respectable and will get you on the bike with the crowd.

Strong swimmers are generally going to swim in the 1:30/100 range or faster. If you are swimming faster than a 1:30 pace then you will generally be top 10% or so out of the water for an AG swimmer.

Depending on the race, you may have some "super swimmers" that show up and compete. These people usually race in the open divisions and I have seen some crazy fast times even locally. For instance, I did a local Oly a few weeks ago. I grew up a swimmer so my swim times are generally quick enough to get me in the FOP. My swim time was 27:34 (about a 1:27/100) and this included about a 1 minute run to transition. This time put me roughly in the top 10% of people out of the water. However, there were a few "super swimmers" in the group including a guy who's swim split was 19:38 including the run to transition. This was a freakishly fast time!

With all of that said, if you really are new to swimming and can do 1500yds without stopping then you are way ahead of the game. Don't worry so much about time and pace and instead work on good form and making the swim feel as easy as possible. Speed will come with time in the water.

Originally posted by The Dude14 I swam a 24:07 (Oly Tri) this weekend which put me in second in my AG (25-29) But only put me 49th overall out of 160.... First and second place both swam in the 16:00 range...

Originally posted by clemson05

I would say the average AG swimmer that has been competing in triathlon for a few years or more and finishes MOP would swim around a 1:40 - 1:45/100 pace. This will not put you in the "elite" category by any means but is respectable and will get you on the bike with the crowd.

Strong swimmers are generally going to swim in the 1:30/100 range or faster. If you are swimming faster than a 1:30 pace then you will generally be top 10% or so out of the water for an AG swimmer.

Originally posted by clemson05

I would say the question is a little too ambiguous to answer, but I will give it a shot anyway.

If you are a completely new simmer as many adult beginner triathletes are then 2:00/100 yd is probably a good pace to start. There are plenty of people that swim slower than this and still have very good overall times.

I would say the average AG swimmer that has been competing in triathlon for a few years or more and finishes MOP would swim around a 1:40 - 1:45/100 pace. This will not put you in the "elite" category by any means but is respectable and will get you on the bike with the crowd.

Strong swimmers are generally going to swim in the 1:30/100 range or faster. If you are swimming faster than a 1:30 pace then you will generally be top 10% or so out of the water for an AG swimmer.

Depending on the race, you may have some "super swimmers" that show up and compete. These people usually race in the open divisions and I have seen some crazy fast times even locally. For instance, I did a local Oly a few weeks ago. I grew up a swimmer so my swim times are generally quick enough to get me in the FOP. My swim time was 27:34 (about a 1:27/100) and this included about a 1 minute run to transition. This time put me roughly in the top 10% of people out of the water. However, there were a few "super swimmers" in the group including a guy who's swim split was 19:38 including the run to transition. This was a freakishly fast time!

With all of that said, if you really are new to swimming and can do 1500yds without stopping then you are way ahead of the game. Don't worry so much about time and pace and instead work on good form and making the swim feel as easy as possible. Speed will come with time in the water.

Originally posted by sebaf74



I think your math is wrong, 27:34 should be a 1:41/100 yds pace. Even if we take the minute for the run to transition out of the time, the pace is 1:37...

Originally posted by Left Brain

My 15 year old son ran his first Oly this year....out of the water first in 18:20.  Last weekend he ran a Jr. Elite race with a 750 swim....out of the water 15th or so in 10:14, but only about 25 seconds off the lead.  It's all relative to the race you are in, the other swimmers, and the course you are swimming.

Originally posted by gsmacleod Rough conditions on the swim? Shane

Originally posted by Left Brain

Not nearly as bad as Richmond, but I think, based on the 375M times from the Youth race, and the times from 750M Jr. race, that the course was just a bit long.  It was a funny deal......sun came out.....Youth Boys and girls and Jr. girls were all wetsuit swims For the  Jr. boys the water got to 69 so no wetsuits.

Originally posted by MLPFS

If it's for an upcoming race for you just look at the times from the previous year. If it's just to get better swimming then what's fast for you is diferent then what's fast for someone else and depends greatly on your experience. If you really need a time to gage your inprovement I would say around 35 mins but that's kind of an arbitrary time.
Unless you are going for podium in your AG or overall then not being gassed after the swim is more important. I come out of the water anywhere from 5 - 20 typically and have never come close to placing in my AG. Run and bike are more important. As it's usually noted you can't win in it in the swim.

Now if you feel the need let the back door brag replies begin..... although please note I did not give any times and was trying to make a point so be kind

Originally posted by TrBeau17

As a beginning swimmer (just learned last Oct), i got my time down to about 1:50/100 yards in a pool. I just did my 1st OLY distance this past weekend and avg 2:04/100 yards in my 1st OWS. I attribute that to poor sighting and not swimming a straight line. Noticed myself way off course a handful of times. Median swim time was around 2:00/100 yards for that event.

Originally posted by MLPFS If it's for an upcoming race for you just look at the times from the previous year. If it's just to get better swimming then what's fast for you is diferent then what's fast for someone else and depends greatly on your experience. If you really need a time to gage your inprovement I would say around 35 mins but that's kind of an arbitrary time. Unless you are going for podium in your AG or overall then not being gassed after the swim is more important. I come out of the water anywhere from 5 - 20 typically and have never come close to placing in my AG. Run and bike are more important. As it's usually noted you can't win in it in the swim. Now if you feel the need let the back door brag replies begin..... although please note I did not give any times and was trying to make a point so be kind

Originally posted by MLPFS

I was only referring to my post and I was kidding since sometimes"back door brag" starts getting thrown around which most times I think is kind of funny.