Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times

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2007-03-23 12:49 PM

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Subject: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times

Question for someone who knows way more about swimming then I do...

Last August was my first Tri - TOBAY Sprint Tri on Long Island. I trained for about 8 weeks and was in the pool once or twice a week. I had never swam free-style for more than 25 yards in my life!

The swim was 1k, or about .62miles/1000 yds?. It was timed electronically, and my time was recorded as 23:13 total, and a 100YD time of 1:40. It was in calm salt water with a wet suit.

Now that I've been training for a couple of months (logged here at BT), I'm seeing my pool times of 100YD coming in around 2:30+. I'm thinking my avg times are longer than the race swim for a couple of reasons possibly:

1) Fresh water pool - less buoyancy
2) No wet suit - less buoyancy
3) Time to turn around at each 25
4) Slower training pace vs. "race" pace
5) Course measurement is off?
6) Not sure if the pool is 25 meters or yards? Does that make a big difference?

Have any of you seen similar differences in pool times vs. open water race times? I have done a lot more swimming since the race - and would hope I'm getting faster, but it's hard to tell b/c my only frame of reference is that one sprint race. Can't wait to race this season to really compare.

Thanks,
Rob


2007-03-23 12:55 PM
in reply to: #734725

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Subject: RE: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times

First off, 1k = 1093.6 yards (meters are about 10% longer than yards--it makes a pretty big difference).

It's extremely difficult to compare pool to OWS for exactly the reasons you implied. You're faster when you're more buoyant (although it's a sliding scale--fast swimmers don't see as much improvement in salt/neoprene as slower swimmers do. You're slower in OW than the pool because you don't have walls to push off on. However, if you have very poor turns, you may be faster without them. But most importantly, OW courses are almost never accurate, but more importantly, you rarely swim exactly straight in OW.



Edited by run4yrlif 2007-03-23 12:56 PM
2007-03-23 1:46 PM
in reply to: #734725

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Subject: RE: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times
Actually I think you did the calc wrong Rob.

23 mins for 1000m is 2.3 mins for 100 m's,

less 10% for yards ~ 2.1 mins per 100 yds

I hope and expect ot be a little faster in OW with a wet suit vs a pool

Given the variables in previous tri swims (bumping, crowds, poor siting, etc), I don't feel confident enough to be sure as yet.

After a winter of masters swimming, I feel great in the pool and feel I'm at least 15% faster on my lap times and more relaxed.

I believe the most important part is to have a comfortable swim, save some energy, stay out of the muck as much as possible.

Good luck!
2007-03-23 1:56 PM
in reply to: #734806

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Subject: RE: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times

That's what I was originally thinking.. the math just doesn't add up for the published distance. I got both of the race numbers (23:13 and 100YD 1:40) directly from the race results page.. Assuming their calculations were correct, I guess the real question is what would the actual distance covered in the race need to be for 100YD 1:40 if it was completed in 23:13. Too much math. This is all about as clear as the water that day...

timber12 - 2007-03-23 2:46 PM

Actually I think you did the calc wrong Rob.

23 mins for 1000m is 2.3 mins for 100 m's,

less 10% for yards ~ 2.1 mins per 100 yds
QUOTE]
2007-03-23 2:01 PM
in reply to: #734819

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Subject: RE: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times

rperissi - 2007-03-23 2:56 PM That's what I was originally thinking.. the math just doesn't add up for the published distance. I got both of the race numbers (23:13 and 100YD 1:40) directly from the race results page.. Assuming their calculations were correct, I guess the real question is what would the actual distance covered in the race need to be for 100YD 1:40 if it was completed in 23:13. Too much math. This is all about as clear as the water that day...
timber12 - 2007-03-23 2:46 PM Actually I think you did the calc wrong Rob. 23 mins for 1000m is 2.3 mins for 100 m's, less 10% for yards ~ 2.1 mins per 100 yds QUOTE]

23:13 at 1:40/100yds = 1393 yards (or 1274 meters).

2007-03-23 2:12 PM
in reply to: #734829

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Subject: RE: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times
run4yrlif - 2007-03-23 3:01 PM

23:13 at 1:40/100yds = 1393 yards (or 1274 meters).



So technically if I swam further than 1000 meters, then the results would be off for the 100YD measurement...? This year I plan to do the race again - so I'll be able to compare and get a real measure of progress (I hope). I'm not going to worry about it too much... just going to swim, race and have fun...



2007-03-23 4:38 PM
in reply to: #734725

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Subject: RE: Open Swim vs. Pool Swim times
For what its worth, this past summer, I was doing 1500 meter pool swims in about 27:30. My olympic race (1500 meter swim split) was 26:45 with a wetsuit in a fresh-water lake. All of the variables you listed above come into play in comparing these times, however. But its a data point.
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