Swim Time Lies

[HillSlugger]

I'm doing my first triathlon on Sunday July 22. I need to submit now the final estimate of my swim time for the pool swim. I keep hearing that "everyone lies" about their swim time and if you actually want to be seeded with swimmers of similar speed you also need to lie. Right now the best estimate of my actual time is 2:00 minutes per 100m. I honestly expect to be more practiced and speedy by the race. So, what time should I submit?

Thanks!

[Cindyloo]

Well, I have only done two triathlons, but I would tell the truth about swim times. Especially since this is a first triathlon. I would want to be with folks that are equal to my time or just a bit slower than me so that I wouldn't get run over in the water. OWS is a whole different ballgame than the pool too (I'm not trying to assume that you have never done OWS before). I do great in the pool and then get in open water and all official times, form, etc goes out the window. At that point, for me, it's all about the next breath . All in all, I don't think you would regret turning in your actual time!

[KSH]

Hey MDHS- Yea... pool swims suck because no one seems to put down an accurate time. I don't think they do it with malicious intent... they just don't really know what their time is and put something down that sounds/looks good.

This typically means that the faster swimmers have to fight past the people who had no clue they weren't swimming 300 yards in 5 minutes.

If I were you, I would probably calculate 1:45-50 per 100. I would shoot on the lower end, as most people do this. If you are a solid swimmer, you don't want to be fighting through too many people because you put an accurate time.

[Tri Girl]

I agree with KSH and go with the times she suggested. In June I did 2 pool swims (my first in tris). The first one I put the time down that I knew I swam- and had to pass 6 people (5 in a row). The second time I put down a little faster time and didn't have to pass anyone. I'd make it a little faster than you can do right now.
I like the woman who said cluelessly at the first pool swim tri I did "oh... is 6 min fast for a 500???" DUH! That's olympic fast, stupid lady! I wonder how many people had to pass her? Sheesh...
She wasn't trying to cheat the system- she just had no clue. I think some people are that way when estimating their times.