Slow swim pace (2:00/100) and IM preparedness/safety (Page 2)

In general, I agree with your sentiment.  However, there is a danger element to this.  I'm a dad as well, and if one of my sons told me they were going to do something potentially dangerous and I felt like they weren't prepared, I'd tell them so.  For example, my son one day may have the guts to try to hop into a race car and give it a go, but without the proper training and preparation I wouldn't hestitate to tell him he doesn't belong there.  The fact is, an IM swim can be dangerous if you're unprepared and I think we do people a disservice by not at least proposing caution.  I disagree with the proposed 2:00/100 benchmark but I agree with the concept if only to save someone from themself.

I puked last year on the run and failed to train for that.  I will be sure to put some puking sessions together between now and September so I can reduce my amount of risk.....you train your way and leave us slower, more pathetic racers to train how we want to train.  Most of us have wifes, kids, jobs, and other interests that do not allow us to train at such a high level as yourself.  You finish at the front and I will finish towards the back....that way I get more bang for my buck!!!!

I believe what he's trying to say is if you have a schedule that includes kids sports, kids school activities, a wife (or husband) with a job and job related activities outside normal hours (including weekends), housework, and other activities you get in training when and how you can. 

I swim a 1 x 4km (IM distance) at least once a week. Those swims take me 1:20:xx or so, which, if I'm not mistaken, comes out to 1:50-2:00/100.

Also, at least once a week, I do 100 meter repeats. I can hit those at 1:30 or so.

So am I cool enough to do an IM since I can put 100 meters down in less than 2 minutes? Or do I have to do a whole 4k set at...whatever 1:30/100 comes out to in order to be allowed to do an Ironman?

Also, havent there been thousands of Ironman finishers who finished the swim at a pace slower than 2:00/100? If so, I suppose the answer to the guys question - "What makes them think they can do it" - is not hubris, its that its been done lots of times before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk

That is a classic. 

I think this 2 min thing is crap! I'm an experienced ocean swimmer and surf lifesaver over here in Australia. I did my training on the NSW Central Coast at a beach notorious for difficult conditions and from then on have always challenged myself to go out and have a swim whatever the conditions. I can't imagine any conditions that would stop me, I've thrown myself in and given it a go just to make sure I could handle it if I had to do a rescue.

Having said all that, I'm a fairly slow swimmer, my best Olympic swim time was 26mins but I actually prefer to finish around 30mins, I find if I do that I really enjoy the swim and then have a much better day!

??????? And your point is?

I agree with most of whats been said...this 2 min thing is crazy....I agree with the poster that said if we were talking around 3 min that would be different.....I am around that 1:45 to 2 min swimer depending on the distance and I have done races that they pulled faster swimmers out of the water due to panic etc in a very rough race. So yes, I think some people bite off more than they can chew but 2 min? come on!....next we will have the "chris Lietos" of the world telling us if you dont do a 4 hour bike split you might as well stay home lol