Mathematically, how do you work out 'three quarter pace"?
Let's say (for the sake of easy calculations) your best time for an event is 1 minute. In practice, you want to go three quarter pace. So a 100% effort will result in a time of 60 seconds. A 75% effort should result in a longer time. My rudimentary maths tells me I should divide 100 by 75 and multiply the result by 60. That works out to 80 seconds, which is a minute and 20 seconds. Why does that sound much slower than what I would normally envisage three quarter pace to be? Or is my maths completely messed up?
We have completely failed to take into account the fluid dynamics of the situation. As effort increases, even the smoothest stroke results in turbulence which would have an effect on the time ratios for the same distance. :D
I guess I have always thought of 3/4 pace or 80% pace as an intuitive understanding based on general feeling and experience. 80% is my cruising speed under which I could swim with effort, but could last 5 or 6 K swimming at that pace. 90% is what I would pace myself in the non-sprinting portions of a 1000 or 500. I haven't seen a workout ask for anything less than this nebulous 3/4 or 80% pace.
We have completely failed to take into account the fluid dynamics of the situation. As effort increases, even the smoothest stroke results in turbulence which would have an effect on the time ratios for the same distance. :D
I guess I have always thought of 3/4 pace or 80% pace as an intuitive understanding based on general feeling and experience. 80% is my cruising speed under which I could swim with effort, but could last 5 or 6 K swimming at that pace. 90% is what I would pace myself in the non-sprinting portions of a 1000 or 500. I haven't seen a workout ask for anything less than this nebulous 3/4 or 80% pace.
