17 replies to this topic

[Runset]

Hi all,

Have managed to up my swimming from 300m to 1km non-stop and was wondering what kind of 1K or 1500m time would be respectable for someone aiming to compete in their first race sometime in the new year.

I have searched google and these forums but with little luck.

I currently get 1K done in a 50m pool in ~17mins during training and as an ex sprint swimmer with no triathlon experience, I have very little idea how well this translates in terms of a triathlon swim split.

Many thanks,

RS

[rohan]

that is respectable swimming as far as i am concerned.
it's a lot faster than a lot of triathletes.
hey i started tris when 500m would take me over 10mins. (and that was cranking it as hard as i could)
first (and only) olympic distance tri, I swam 37mins... very much towards the back of the field.

do you need to be 'good' before you start doing tris? jump in and give it a whirl, there'll be plenty of folks slower than you, particularly if you start by doing mini tris.

[Runset]

Thanks for your input Rohan

Firstly, congratulations on getting through an OD triathlon!! Do you wish to enter another race?

I admit it comes across as if I am paranoid about being 'good' before entering a race, but I'd like to think that's not the case. I currently don't have a bike so once that's sorted, regardless of my ability, I'll be entering.

Until then, I guess I was just curious as to how my swimming was stacking up and by knowing more about where I stood, my training would probably benefit and I'd find more motivation.

Cheers again

RS

[rohan]

Runset, on Dec 7 2009, 12:33 PM, said:

Thanks for your input Rohan

Firstly, congratulations on getting through an OD triathlon!! Do you wish to enter another race?

actually that was some time ago, and as a poor swimmer I learned to go in races where the swim was a smaller proportion of the overall event eg. 6xhalf ironman and 1xIronman, but only 1xOlympic.

do you really lack a bike? or just a 'real' bike?
because if you check out some little tris then mostly you'll see roadbikes, many with clipon aero bars, some tri/TT bikes, and a smattering of mountain bikes... some complete with knobby tires.

so as an introduction you can rock up on just about anything.

[Runset]

The closest thing I have to a bike is a skateboard, so yes I guess I lack a bike fullstop

[Gasher]

Runset, on Dec 7 2009, 10:00 PM, said:

I currently get 1K done in a 50m pool in ~17mins during training and as an ex sprint swimmer with no triathlon experience, I have very little idea how well this translates in terms of a triathlon swim split.

RS, your ~17min/k may translate to a much faster swim in open water. I'm assuming you aren't wearing a wetsuit in the pool & as a wetsuit seems to be a must have (in the triathlons I have seen) already you are going to go faster. What sort of turns do you do in the pool?? If you are a snappy Thorpy/Hackett type then you will actually record slower in an open swim but if you just tag out at the end of each lap then there is good saving of time to be had by continuing in the one direction. Just a guestimate, if you can do 17mins for a km in a 50m pool doing crappy turns & you add a wetsuit your open water swim could be as quick as 16mins or less for the same distance. I'm sure Rohan or Miners et al would be in better position to comment on pool to open water conversion times, best of luck in your upcoming race.

[guinness]

noosa olympic distance tri results are available here - should give you an idea of the times people do

http://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/Race...d=357&EId=1

[getfitfast]

For a newbie ... these goals seem daunting..

Been learning to swim for three months and just managed 1500m in 55mins..with stops...

Will I ever get to 1km in 20 mins?

What is a respectable pace for a first Sprint Tri? Or should just not worry and enjoy the whole thing..lol

[Runset]

Cheers Gasher, interesting points you raise. No wetsuit, just budgies and I guess my turns are of the snappier variety. Open water presents so many variables that I thought if anything a pool swim is always faster...it's nice to know that may not necessarily be the case.

Thanks Guiness, downloading the results now! Pretty spot on pace for 1500m as you'd imagine for the elites, ~17mins.

Getfitfast, if you've only learned how to swim in 3 months and can swim 1500m I think that's remarkable!! I was fortunate enough to swim with a squad at school so your achievement is amazing. Other more seasoned vets may have better advice, but in my opinion it may be worth getting your stroke looked at by hiring a coach/joining an adult squad...as far as I can tell, technique is almost if not everything in swimming.

Secondly, why are you stopping during your 1500m efforts? Out of breath/going too hard? Sore shoulders/back? Cramps? For me, I was needing to stop every 200m - if I could even manage that - and that was because my delts were screaming. I took the advice of my sister who can glide through 4K without any troubles...she suggested I simply slow down and you know what, it worked

Hope that helps

RS

[getfitfast]

Runset, on Dec 8 2009, 11:28 AM, said:

Secondly, why are you stopping during your 1500m efforts? Out of breath/going too hard? Sore shoulders/back? Cramps? For me, I was needing to stop every 200m - if I could even manage that - and that was because my delts were screaming. I took the advice of my sister who can glide through 4K without any troubles...she suggested I simply slow down and you know what, it worked

RS

Sorry..should correct myself..in the 1500m I did...most of it was sets of 100m & 200m..I only did a single stretch of 500m..I could have gone for another 200m..I think..but time was an issue..needed to get back home...

I feel comfortable in breaking the back of swimming..but daunted when I hear 1km in 20mins or less....!

[Woodenlegs]

getfitfast, on Dec 8 2009, 01:23 PM, said:

Sorry..should correct myself..in the 1500m I did...most of it was sets of 100m & 200m..I only did a single stretch of 500m..I could have gone for another 200m..I think..but time was an issue..needed to get back home...

I feel comfortable in breaking the back of swimming..but daunted when I hear 1km in 20mins or less....!

You don't have to break 20mins for 1km in order to do a sprint triathlon. I did the Gold Coast this year which was 1km swim 33km bike and 7km run and I most certainly did not break 20min for the swim and I was not last in my age group.

I have to agree with Runset in that good technique is essential. I have tried swimming by myself and it has not helped my speed at all, I have finally found a good coach who is helping me with my technique.

Now my biggest challenge now is to meet the cut off of 1hr for a 2km swim by February

[guinness]

getfitfast, on Dec 8 2009, 09:23 AM, said:

For a newbie ... these goals seem daunting..

Been learning to swim for three months and just managed 1500m in 55mins..with stops...

Will I ever get to 1km in 20 mins?
Or should just not worry and enjoy the whole thing..lol

definitely just enter a sprint tri and have fun!

pick one with a short swim first up. the key thing is to keep calm as the start of tri swims can be a bit of a washing machine, if you're not confident just start at the back and on a side.

you'll be amazed at how quickly your swimming will improve, at the start of last season I couldn't swim 50m without gasping at the end of the lane. At the end of last season I did the busso HIM (1.9km swim) and I did the swim at the busso IM on the weekend. I'm still very slow - but have no problem keeping going.

have fun!

[axe69]

As for technique, I've found this site helpful: http://www.swimsmooth.com

[Stem]

Runset, on Dec 7 2009, 10:00 PM, said:

I currently get 1K done in a 50m pool in ~17mins during training and as an ex sprint swimmer with no triathlon experience, I have very little idea how well this translates in terms of a triathlon swim split.

My 1k in the pool I struggle to beat 22 mins. At the Nepean Tri my 1k was 21.15. I drafted off someones feet the whole way, and the swim felt very easy.
Two club tris, (750M swim) also a Penrith Regatta Centre, the first one with wetsuit was 13:52, the second without wetsuit was 15.44. The extra time in T1 it takes to remove the wetty, pretty much uses the time it saves in short races.

Personnally, I would love to be able too swim 1k in 17min . I think you'll find your swim time should be very acceptable.

[cakeboy]

Stem, on Dec 8 2009, 06:39 PM, said:

Personnally, I would love to be able too swim 1k in 17min . I think you'll find your swim time should be very acceptable.

I agree; you'll be well up the field. I swim a km in about 19 minutes in a pool.
In an olympic tri my best is 25 minutes (wearing a suit). You go a lot faster in open water in a pack, especially if you sit on some big fellas feet and are prepared to cop a few bumps.

Good luck....they are really good fun.....if they were't so expensive I'd be doing more of them....

cheers dave

[miners]

yep 17 minutes is plenty fast enough for 1km, and will definitely translate faster in open-water Tri conditions (salt water, wetsuit, drafting etc..). You'll likely be in the top 10% of the field (age-group) with that sort of split.

The tris always come down to the run leg anyway, especially in the longer stuff if you step up to HIM+.

Admittedly, OD racing (1.5km) represents perhaps the fairest balance of legs in triathlon, and so the swim makes more of a difference. But again, swim time gains are measured in 30secs - 1min. A 40km bike and/or 10km run can blow those gains away pretty quickly.

[Runset]

Thanks miners, good advice.

I heard something similar on the recent ITU coverage on Fox: "You can't win a triathlon in the swim, but you can definitely lose one".

[Phoenix]

Runset, on Dec 7 2009, 10:00 PM, said:

I currently get 1K done in a 50m pool in ~17mins

I would give my left kahuna to swim that fast.

Take it as read that your swimming is under control and concentrate on weaker areas in your build up.

I joined a local tri club and am loving it. The regular events really push you to improve.