Newbie Swim Speed Question

[Starfish]

Any popular wisdom out there about rate of swimming in the pool and how it translates into rates of speed in the open water? I'm curious about how fast a person needs to be in order to do an Iron Man swim within the time cutoff.

Don't know if this is an answerable question. Guess I am trying to guage my pool speed and see if I am currently anywhere near the swimmer I would have to be to someday finish an IM triathlon.

Hope this isn't a dumb question. Thanks for any wisdom.

[Tri Girl]

Just speaking from my point of view: in my IM last fall, I swam the 2.4 miles in 1:40. Not break-neck speed, but decent for me (I have numbness issues in my hands big-time on the swim). I think that translates into about 2min 30 seconds per 100 yds. I think the cutoff time for most is 2 hrs 20 min (maybe shorter at some races). That translates into roughly a 3 min. 30 seconds per 100 yds.

For me, I always swim slower in the pool than I do in open water. Granted, I swim a lot slower when swimming 2 miles than when swimming 1500 yds, but that's relative, too. When swimming open water, first, the drag from the many swimmers ahead of me helps to pull me along at first (until we thin out then I'm kinda on my own), and second, my wetsuit helps give me buoyancy to help me float so I'm not working as hard at staying flat in the water.

Don't know if that helps, or I was just rambling. Others here should be able to give much better advice based on their experiences as well.
It's exciting that you're considering an IM- it's the most amazing thing I've ever done (too bad the dedication and focus I had last year has not returned this season ).

[Starfish]

Tri Girl, thanks. This is not rambling, it is helpful! I am surprised that you swim faster in a wetsuit in open water than in a pool. I assumed it would always be harder (slower) to swim a long open water swim. I also assumed a wetsuit would slow one down. So, this is exciting to hear!

I hope to do some kind of triathlon next year. This year, I am focusing on cycling goals and using swimming for cross training to stay injury free. I hope to start a run/walk program in the fall, and am just hoping my bad knee will hold up.

I have little dreams of an IM someday...years from now, I would guess, based on my level of endurance training to date. It seems an utterly audacious, outrageous thought for me (a pudgy, middle-aged woman) to entertain. But, it won't go away.

OK...THAT was rambling. Thank you for your reply!

[tygab]

I have little dreams of an IM someday...years from now, I would guess, based on my level of endurance training to date. It seems an utterly audacious, outrageous thought for me (a pudgy, middle-aged woman) to entertain.

Hmm.... aren't those the best kind?

[Wahine]

Tri Girl, thanks. This is not rambling, it is helpful! I am surprised that you swim faster in a wetsuit in open water than in a pool. I assumed it would always be harder (slower) to swim a long open water swim. I also assumed a wetsuit would slow one down. So, this is exciting to hear!

I have little dreams of an IM someday...years from now, I would guess, based on my level of endurance training to date. It seems an utterly audacious, outrageous thought for me (a pudgy, middle-aged woman) to entertain. But, it won't go away.

Starfish, IM is a big goal but very achieveable for most healthy people if you have the time to train. A friend of mine finished her first IM last year, about 12 min past the cut off. It was on her 50th birthday. She is not seriously overweight but I wouldn't call her svelt either. She would have finished under the cut off except that at mile 20 of the run she began having stomach issues and spent a lot of time at the side of the road puking.

As for swimming in open water with a wetsuit, most people can go much faster. That being said, it depends a lot on how well you can site and hold a straight line in the open water and whether or not you're dealing with chop or waves. So the best open water strategy is to learn to site well, draft off of others and choose an event that is likely to have fairly flat water, lake swims are good. Oh, and it's important to have a triathlon wetsuit with slick neoprene on the outside. Other wetsuits drag and are stiff so the do make you slower.

[Starfish]

Thanks.

I am 41, and I have a local friend who did her first IM at (I think) 50. I really think I could do it if my knee would hold up, and of course, if I really have the commitment to train for a couple years. That is the question, truthfully. I am going to bike this year for a goal ride I have targeted, and I am going to use swimming for cross training. I am thinking of starting a walk/run thing in the fall and see how the knee goes.

I appreciate the info about the training and the swimming. I understand the Canadian IM has the swimming in a lake, not ocean. My friend trains here in a big glacial lake we have.

[Tri Girl]

Tri Girl, thanks.
I have little dreams of an IM someday...years from now, I would guess, based on my level of endurance training to date. It seems an utterly audacious, outrageous thought for me (a pudgy, middle-aged woman) to entertain. But, it won't go away.

You're welcome!
And it does NOT seem audacious or outrageous for you to have dreams of doing an IM. I did one and I'm by no means a thin/super fit athlete. I'm what I affectionately refer to myself as a "slow fat triathlete" (thanks Jayne Williams). I did an IM- but I did it slowly. No matter how fast- I did it.
I truly believe anyone can do one if they have enough determination and time. I did my IM my first season of tris. Did my first tri in May (sprint) and the IM in September (began training seriously in mid-March).
You can do it (look at me trying to talk you into it).

[Starfish]

I did my IM my first season of tris. Did my first tri in May (sprint) and the IM in September (began training seriously in mid-March).

Wow, that seems fast. May I ask, what did your endurance training look like in the couple of years leading up to this?