Average Joe/Jane swim times

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:47:06 GMT

Thank you all for the great feedback and links. Yes, I've been thinking that I need to compare my times with more general, "all purpose" triathlon swimmers. "Adult-onset swimmers" hahaha I love it!

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:26:38 GMT

Lots of friendly people and good advice on this forum, but I think it focuses more on fast swimmers than the average guy. The swimsmooth.com site is geared to triathletes and focuses on people of varied speeds. Here's the page for beginner speeds. I think at 30 minutes to a mile, you would be at the intermediate or advanced level.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:52 GMT

Somewhere on this forum a man created a document that ranked times aaaa / aaa/ aa / a / b / c like usa swimming does for the age-groupers. Try searching the forum for this unofficial ranking. I think National cuts were generally aa or aaa times. I'd search for it for you but it's 12:15 a.m. and I have to be up at 6 a.m. for school. I'll look tomorrow night if you haven't found it. It's here: Masters Motivational Times - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums But I don't think the even the "B" times are Average Joe/Jane times. Triathletes are a better representation of adult-onset swimmers than Masters swimmers. I swim with a lot of triathletes. Of the adult-onset triathlon swimmers I know, even those who are serious about improving (i.e. swims with a team, works with a coach, swims at least 3x/week) would be lucky to hit the B times in 3 years. A 70th percentile triathlon swimmer would find him/herself in the 30th percentile of the 1-hour postal swim. And he/she is still way faster than a fitness swimmer.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

poolraat — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:59:53 GMT

I'd love to know what average times older swimmers who have taken up swimming AFTER college (no previous team experience), but have a passion for the sport are achieving. Thanks Paul - I took up swimming 12 years ago at age 48. I did not swim competitively prior to that and my only swimming experience was the standard lessons as a kid and 1 triathlon in the early 80's (where I did most of the swim sidestroke). So anyway these are the times I swam last year: 50 free - 27.1 100 free - 1:00.9 50 back - 33.1 100 back - 1:10.0 200 back - 2:35.3 50 fly - 31.3 I don't have any times for the mile in the pool but did a 28 min mile in open water and a 58 min 2 mile open water. And I also did all of the postal swims last year: 1 hour - 4050 yards 5k 1:28 10k - 3:02 3000 yard - 43 min 6000 yard 1:28

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

knelson — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:29:49 GMT

A 70th percentile triathlon swimmer would find him/herself in the 30th percentile of the 1-hour postal swim. And he/she is still way faster than a fitness swimmer. Looking at triathlon results might not be a bad place to start. Obviously you can't directly compare open water swimming times with pool times, but it's a start. The One Hour Postal results are also useful. There's a huge range of swimming speeds represented in that event. For men 55-59 the top swimmer swam 5,395 yards and the 186th swimmer did 1,550 yards. The median swimmer was around 3,840 yards or 2.18 miles in one hour. This is 27.5 min/mile pace.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Bobinator — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:14:15 GMT

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:35:25 GMT

I'm betting that there is some low hanging fruit to pluck with regard to improving your stroke.Thanks Karl. I feel the same way. But before this thread morphs into more than I intended, my technique/training was the discussion of my first post here a few months ago. Everyone was very generous with advice and suggested workouts. I AM swimming 1Hr daily now, since that time. forums.usms.org/showthread.php?t=19392 I'm overdue for another session with coach Brad Hering, this time using his underwater camera. Here's the video he took of me at our first session. (yes, it's our small local 55ft pool:blush:) http://youtu.be/E0BQ7Tkn7UI Lastly, I have really enjoyed (and I think profited from) receiving Australian coach Brenton Ford's periodic email tips. He seems like a great guy, very practical and positive. www.effortlessswimming.com/.../ Oh and in just the last 2 weeks with wall to wall pace tones on my mp3 (since I have no one to pace with) the pace tones are already easier to keep up with, and actually beat to the wall ! :)

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:04:10 GMT

Paul, you may want to keep in mind that if you are viewing the SCY rankings for the 2011-2012 season, you won't see a very complete picture yet. The majority of SCY meets take place in the spring; the season ends on May 31st. To get an idea of what the rankings will look like at the end of the season, perform the same search for the 2010-2011 season. You'll see a lot more names in the list. Aahhh now... what are you trying to rain on my parade? Ok I guess I can imagine there are probably more than 19 58yr old guys in the US who can swim a mile faster than my 29 minutes ;-) It is all a matter of perspective. You are now ranked in the top 20 for your age group. Congratulations!Thanks Michael for typing all those encouraging words with your bleeding finger :) As a side note, I used to hear a song about Irving, the 142nd fastest gun in the west. In the song, he was not trying to beat number one, he was gunning for #143! Makes me think of the saying "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly" But I get the point. I AM the 142nd.... the FASTEST swimmer of ALL age groups in our local community pool. They think I'm so serious & fast. But I know I'm 142nd....That's NOT good enough. I'm determined to find 3-4 more minutes somewhere. Thanks all.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

knelson — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:09:28 GMT

As a side note, I used to hear a song about Irving, the 142nd fastest gun in the west. In the song, he was not trying to beat number one, he was gunning for #143! Great song! "They called him Irving. Big, fat Irving..."

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Karl_S — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:30:54 GMT

... But I know I'm 142nd....That's NOT good enough. I'm determined to find 3-4 more minutes somewhere. I'm just guessing here, but based on this information: ... I'm 58, 6'1" (6'4" arm span) 180lbs. And I'm forever stuck at a 29-30 minute mile. That sounds like a reasonable, actually pretty good, body for a swimmer and you certainly aren't "too old" yet, (whatever that is) so I'm betting that there is some low hanging fruit to pluck with regard to improving your stroke. If you get someone to video you with a camera phone and post it here you'll probably get some good tips. A 26-minute 1650 certainly sounds like a totally reasonable goal if you swim regularly.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:50:41 GMT

But I only had to drop down 19 places (in men's 55-59) to find a 29min 1650 like mine! :applaud: Paul, you may want to keep in mind that if you are viewing the SCY rankings for the 2011-2012 season, you won't see a very complete picture yet. The majority of SCY meets take place in the spring; the season ends on May 31st. To get an idea of what the rankings will look like at the end of the season, perform the same search for the 2010-2011 season. You'll see a lot more names in the list.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Jimbosback — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:39:56 GMT

www.usms.org/.../toptimes.php You can search any event and age group.

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Michael Heather — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:59:26 GMT

It is all a matter of perspective. You are now ranked in the top 20 for your age group. Congratulations! I am one of those former athletes, but still swim because I love the sport and enjoy socializing with all sorts of people. I have found that some of the most ardent competitors took up the sport late in life, whereas I don't need to prove anything to anyone but me. I really am thrilled to hear a 60 something say that they have just swum a PR for some event. I remember that all of those are far behind me and am a little jealous that they get to enjoy the thrill of their new accomplishments. OK, so your 29-30 minute mile puts you in the top 20, how much do you have to shave off to get into the top 10? 15? Just beat the guy in front of you? Small steps still get you to your destination. As a side note, I used to hear a song about Irving, the 142nd fastest gun in the west. In the song, he was not trying to beat number one, he was gunning for #143!

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

Former Member — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:26:38 GMT

www.usms.org/.../toptimes.php You can search any event and age group. Thank you. (Sorry I should have trolled this site further) When it said "Top Times" I rolled my eyes and thought 'here we go again... more former athletes' But I only had to drop down 19 places (in men's 55-59) to find a 29min 1650 like mine! :applaud: But then the 1st place guy was 19min lol :bow: Thanks,

RE: Average Joe/Jane swim times

orca1946 — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:11:40 GMT

Agreed. Local or other state local meet results will show you what others do in your age group. Keep swimming! Click on results & look.