I am a former distance runner and I'm trying to get into Modern Pentathlon. I have to swim a 200m Freestyle. I've been training for 3 months and I feel I've improved a lot. At first I couldn't do more than two 50yards without stopping. Now I can do 10x100yards in 1.17-1.18 with 30sec recovery. I also do 10X50 in 34-35 and 5x200 in 2.45-2.48. All this in a turbulent, filthy 25 yard pool!
I'm training on my own and I don't really know what I'm doing. I have a test in ten days consisting of a 200m freestyle and a 3000m run and I have to have a total score of 2400 points.
While my run is strong enough to get me 1400 points (I represented the US at 2 world championships), I have to swim at least a 2.30 for my 200 m to get the remaining 1000 points. I don't know what to expect! I don't know how I should pace myself through the 1st 50, how I'm supposed to feel on the 2nd, 3rd 50 etc.
Based on my workouts, can anyone predict how fast I can swim a 200m in an Olympic size pool?
The best I've done is 2.43 on my last interval in a 200 yards
Is 2.30 for 200 meters a legitimate target considering I'd be using a starting block, fast skin half suit and I'd be swimming in a real competition pool?
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Former Member
I'd say your chances of going sub 2:30 are slim but possible. 30 seconds is a pretty long interval. I typically go 1:10 - 1:15 with 15-20 seconds rest and 1:05-1:10 with more rest. My 200 yd free is 2:10, which would be about 2:23ish (using a 1.1 conversion) for meters. Depending on your ability to push through pain, you could make it, but I'm betting you end up more like 2:35-2:40. Ask Karen Dugan for a time estimate, she nailed the estimate for me for my 400 IM.
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Former Member
I'd say your chances of going sub 2:30 are slim but possible. 30 seconds is a pretty long interval. I typically go 1:10 - 1:15 with 15-20 seconds rest and 1:05-1:10 with more rest. My 200 yd free is 2:10, which would be about 2:23ish (using a 1.1 conversion) for meters. Depending on your ability to push through pain, you could make it, but I'm betting you end up more like 2:35-2:40. Ask Karen Dugan for a time estimate, she nailed the estimate for me for my 400 IM.
