Swim speed

[laurack]

Lets discuss swim speeds! Since I'm considering finding a tri for this year after all.

I timed myself recently since I can now swim for a few hundred without stopping. I found that at my "slow" pace (where I can keep swimming a while) I would average 2:45-3:00 per 100m. Then if I pushed a bit I could do 2:30/100 however then I get a little out of breath and will rest 20 seconds between 100s. (bringing me back to 3:00)

breast stroke takes me more like 3:30/100m

So what is your comfortable 100m pace for freestyle and breaststroke? And then, when you take it to open water how much time gets added generally?

I've never swam in the open water (I mean, we live by the beach so I swim but not SWIM swim)

thanks for entertaining my questions 

[al320]

Race pace or open water pace or just if im at practice swimming?

Really, it doesnt matter. Keep swimming, have fun, and itll be great. But DEFINITELY practice open water. Its very different than pool swimming.

[taratru]

I actually average a few seconds faster in open water because I'm not stopping to turn at the wall all the time. But yes, make sure you practice in it, because it's a whole different beast.

[kams]

There are SO MANY factors that can change your open water speed: wetsuits, current, sun in your eyes, other swimmers, the list goes on. I find my open water pace to usually be about 10 seconds/100m slower, but it’s just so variable. The best thing you can do is, as others said, practice. It is so vastly different.

And have fun!! I love the feeling of open water swimming, and I also like the shuffle and craziness of a pack (as long as I’m not taking feet to the face).

[mrs.jacinthe]

In the pool, at my fastest, non-sustainable, I max out at around 1:35/100. I can sustain 1:45-ish/100. Out of shape I'm much closer to 2:00/100.

Open water depends on a lot of factors, one being how far I'm going to swim. My forever pace, if I'm going over 3 miles, is about a 40-45 minute mile, depending on conditions and water temp. I'm on the faster side of that the colder the water is, down to about 60, then I slow down again.

[emilyj]

My pace doesn't tend to vary from pool to open water. I think I am unusual in that respect. I think turns slow me down. I tend to get a hair faster when I go from the short course (25yard) to the long course (50m) pool, which makes me think turns.

The one thing I have found that kills my speed is warmer water. My worst OWS's have been in warm water.

I agree with practicing in open water though. Also, practice breathing bilaterally. If you only breathe one side, and get out in open water and are staring in to the sun, or have chop slapping you in the face, you want to be able to switch seamlessly to breathing on your other side. It's such a different beast. My first tri I thought I was going to drown, and the swim is my strong leg.

Right now I'm holding down a 1:38-1:39/100yd avg. with shorter sets. I'll see how that translates next weekend. I haven't done really long straight sets yet (800 is my furthest continuous) so I'm guessing it will drop to 1:41,1:42ish?