Pool vs. OWS times

But you also need to take into account other factors you don't have in  a pool.  Such as water temp, wind, waves, water current, etc.

Doug

I think you'll see improved times for the reasons you state.  I also do not do flip turns and try to limit any push off the wall, and I'm typically faster in OWS than pool.  Quite a bit faster.

I was the same boat as you. ~2:05/100 in the pool and I swam a 1:43/100 in my sprint tri. Calm lake water, some drafting, wetsuit, no wind (pretty much ideal OW conditions). 

Personally I am slower in the OW compared to the pool. 

I was faster in my race.  The wetsuit keeps you right on top of the water, like a cork bobbing around so all your energy is spent in forward motion.  Also, I felt sleeker?  Felt like I was cutting thru the water, like it was just moving out of my way as I went thru it.  Only 1 race though, so small sample size I guess

In therory OWS times should be a little faster then pools swims, but a lot of factors impact the actual results.
To name a few:
1) How good are you a swimming a straight line with no lane markers
2) How efficient are you at sighting and how often do you need to do it to keep on course.
3) How accurately is the OWS course measured. (I have done some OWS that were way off (some short, some long).
4) How well do you handle swimming with others.
5) Was it wetsuit legal or not.
6)Weather conditions (wind, waves etc.)
7)Current if a river swim,

The list can go on and on so it is hard to accurately predict. In the big picture it doesn't really matter. What time you swam that course on that day compared to others is all that counts.

If it is the first time I have done the TRI I just try to keep it steady so don't get out of breath and panic so I can move on to the bike and run. The next time I do the same TRI I compare my time to see if I am improving.

When I practice doing OWS I do them by time and use my average per 100 yds from my pool swims to estimate my number of yards I swam.

First Tri, so time isn't key for me, just finishing.  I'm just trying to figure out what to expect come race day.

No wetsuit.  No current.  Pending on weather it should be pretty calm first thing in the morning.

Minus any "rough" conditions I imagine I will come out stronger and faster in the OWS being I use a lot of time and energy turning at the end and regaining my momentum.  Like I said, finishing is the most important thing to me.  It'll be a huge milestone for me.

Going from couch potato to sprint in under 4 month's, not to mention I was close to 300 pounds.  (Now down around 25.)