Hey all!
New to the site and fairly new to swimming in general. I live in Florida so I've known how to swim my whole life, but I've just recently (beginning of the year) started swimming recrationally/for excersize. I'm seeking commision in the US Navy; so I'm trying to stay fit. I've been swimming freestyle now for a few months and for the last few weeks with goggles and a snorkle. Before starting freestyle, I did *** stroke (my verison) and side stroke (Navy's version).
No matter what I do I seem to swim about 2 minutes per 100m freestyle. How is that timing for this type of swimming? I even used a pull bouy and it didn't slow me down that much, albeit I was much more tired at the end of the swim. I usually swim 500 to 800 meters every few days on my lunch break. I even did 1000m last week. Felt very accomplished that day.
Also, I'm going to start training for an upcoming sprint triathlon. I have about 5 months to train and I have a plan of attack, but I'm trying to learn more about open water swimming. At what point should I attempt an OWS? What should I practice before actually attempting an OWS? The sprint tri OWS is between 400 and 500 m. Should I pratice this distance open water or more?
Thanks for listening and I hope to learn more.
Dave
No matter what I do I seem to swim about 2 minutes per 100m freestyle. How is that timing for this type of swimming? I even used a pull bouy and it didn't slow me down that much, albeit I was much more tired at the end of the swim. I usually swim 500 to 800 meters every few days on my lunch break. I even did 1000m last week. Felt very accomplished that day.
Also, I'm going to start training for an upcoming sprint triathlon. I have about 5 months to train and I have a plan of attack, but I'm trying to learn more about open water swimming. At what point should I attempt an OWS? What should I practice before actually attempting an OWS? The sprint tri OWS is between 400 and 500 m. Should I pratice this distance open water or more?
2:00/100 m is probably a little bit on the slower side for sprint tri's. A quick glance of a half ironman event (1.2 mi swim) near me last summer had 1,200 competitors and a 1:58/100m swimmer was in 545th place, so that's right around average.
The fact that you were around the same speed with a pull buoy is not necessarily surprising. The buoy will raise up your hips and legs. That improvement in body position can offset the loss of power from a kick.
You always want to practice longer distances than what you are actually swimming. Swim as much as you can (seriously). Even if you're doing 5,000 meters a day, you could do more, so just get in whatever you have time for.
Make sure you aren't just hopping in and doing one long swim. Do workouts that are both sprint (short distances, high rest, 100% intensity) and distance/pace oriented (longer distances, shorter rest, 80-90% intensity). I'm generalizing, but specific workouts are on the forums.
In my experience, you don't need a lot of time practicing in the Open Water environment...a pool will suffice. However, I've been swimming my entire life, so I'm pretty comfortable anywhere there is water.
No matter what I do I seem to swim about 2 minutes per 100m freestyle. How is that timing for this type of swimming? I even used a pull bouy and it didn't slow me down that much, albeit I was much more tired at the end of the swim. I usually swim 500 to 800 meters every few days on my lunch break. I even did 1000m last week. Felt very accomplished that day.
Also, I'm going to start training for an upcoming sprint triathlon. I have about 5 months to train and I have a plan of attack, but I'm trying to learn more about open water swimming. At what point should I attempt an OWS? What should I practice before actually attempting an OWS? The sprint tri OWS is between 400 and 500 m. Should I pratice this distance open water or more?
2:00/100 m is probably a little bit on the slower side for sprint tri's. A quick glance of a half ironman event (1.2 mi swim) near me last summer had 1,200 competitors and a 1:58/100m swimmer was in 545th place, so that's right around average.
The fact that you were around the same speed with a pull buoy is not necessarily surprising. The buoy will raise up your hips and legs. That improvement in body position can offset the loss of power from a kick.
You always want to practice longer distances than what you are actually swimming. Swim as much as you can (seriously). Even if you're doing 5,000 meters a day, you could do more, so just get in whatever you have time for.
Make sure you aren't just hopping in and doing one long swim. Do workouts that are both sprint (short distances, high rest, 100% intensity) and distance/pace oriented (longer distances, shorter rest, 80-90% intensity). I'm generalizing, but specific workouts are on the forums.
In my experience, you don't need a lot of time practicing in the Open Water environment...a pool will suffice. However, I've been swimming my entire life, so I'm pretty comfortable anywhere there is water.
