I've sort of decided to swim the 400IM at Auburn. I've never swum it LCM before (and only once SCY), but will have twice before LCM Nats. I won't have a LCM time before I register, though. Since it seems as if sandbagging is a hot topic now, I want to make sure I enter a fairly realistic time -- but I don't want to end up out of my league either. My question is -- how do your actual LCM times in the 400IM compare to your converted SCY times? For the record, my 200IM SCY/LCM conversion is fairly accurate. Not sure if the same will apply to the 400IM, though.
Now I just hope that Swimosaur doesn't read this, as I will then be committed to swimming the LCM 400 IM. :)
The first time I swam the 400 LCM IM, I used a time converter to guesstimate an entry time, and I did not swim anywhere near as fast as the conversion tool predicted. I was something like 9 or 10 seconds slower. I think the main reason for that is that breaststroke is my weakest stroke by far, and in long course I have to swim far more breaststroke than I do in short course, where I can use the additional pullouts to hide. So if you're awesome at breaststroke then this might not be an issue for you, but if you're like me then expect to go slower than the conversion tools predict.
I don't know many people who swim better in LCM than their conversion from SCY would suggest. My 400 LCM best time is 6 seconds slower than my conversion. However, my SCY was under college training and LCM was club team. So in a different environment it's hard to know for certain. I would definitely go a little slower if I was you.
The first time I swam the 400 LCM IM, I used a time converter to guesstimate an entry time, and I did not swim anywhere near as fast as the conversion tool predicted. I was something like 9 or 10 seconds slower. I think the main reason for that is that breaststroke is my weakest stroke by far, and in long course I have to swim far more breaststroke than I do in short course, where I can use the additional pullouts to hide. So if you're awesome at breaststroke then this might not be an issue for you, but if you're like me then expect to go slower than the conversion tools predict.My SCY time done at the end of January was 4:18 something, which, using the Swimming World Time Converter, should have been around 4:58/4:59. I swam a LCM 400 IM about 6 weeks later, was still in good shape, felt good, etc. (e.g., all conditions essentially the same) and was 5:06+. At the same meet, my 200 LCM was 2 seconds slower than the SCY-LCM converter said it should be.
Now, your SCY/LCM 200 conversion works, so maybe you don't need to add 8-10 seconds, but I generally don't trust the SCY->LCM conversions for me ... but I also rarely train LCM so I'm generally not conditioned well enough for racing LCM.
I'm a LOT slower than that, so percentage-wise I'd probably need to add more time. :) I'm 45 (if that makes a difference), and my one and only 400 IM SCY time was 5:38. It felt pretty comfortable, though, as I swam it conservatively. The Swimming World conversion tool puts my time at 6:25, and my iPhone conversion app (for what that's worth) puts my LCM time at 6:17. My current 200 IM LCM time is 2:58. Based on what you all have said and what I'm thinking, 6:30 is a nice, round number. Does that sound reasonable?
yep!
Based on what you all have said and what I'm thinking, 6:30 is a nice, round number. Does that sound reasonable?Yes.
As for all those people on the sandbagging thread who spend waaaaaaaaaaaaayyy too much time worrying about how other people enter their events, ignore them, swim your heart out and have fun.
The 400 IM is a sublime event of beauty and grace ... mixed in with just the right amount of pain.
I'm actually excited to swim it long course.My only other bits of advice:
try to almost feel like you're loafing that first 50 of fly and then just gently build the 2nd 50 of fly. Even if you're a great butterflier, you want to end the fly with a lot of gas left in the tank.
after that, just build each 100, making sure to take the first 25 to 40 meters of each lap to get into the groove of your stroke before trying to pick up the pace.
My only other bits of advice:
try to almost feel like you're loafing that first 50 of fly and then just gently build the 2nd 50 of fly. Even if you're a great butterflier, you want to end the fly with a lot of gas left in the tank.
after that, just build each 100, making sure to take the first 25 to 40 meters of each lap to get into the groove of your stroke before trying to pick up the pace.
I will second that! I've always been a great flyer, and now as a masters swimmer making more attempts in LCM I will second PWBs comment of going very easy on the first 1/2 of the fly. I did it this last weekend and had much better results. Unless you like the lifeguards coming in after you!! :bolt:
As far as the 400 IM, my SCY to LCM conversion is also faster than what I have actually swum. By about 6 seconds in my case.
I'm glad you posted this question! I just did my first 400 IM ever, SCY, in about 6:30. The time converter told me I could do 400 IM LCM in 5:48, which seemed really wrong, so I added a lot of time to that. When it comes to swimming, I'm all freestyle and turns, so I don't see how taking away walls and doubling the distance +10% would make me swim faster.
I'm just hoping I finish the heat in a respectable time compared to everyone else in the heat.
I've sort of decided to swim the 400IM at Auburn. I've never swum it LCM before (and only once SCY), but will have twice before LCM Nats. I won't have a LCM time before I register, though. Since it seems as if sandbagging is a hot topic now, I want to make sure I enter a fairly realistic time -- but I don't want to end up out of my league either. My question is -- how do your actual LCM times in the 400IM compare to your converted SCY times? For the record, my 200IM SCY/LCM conversion is fairly accurate. Not sure if the same will apply to the 400IM, though.
Now I just hope that Swimosaur doesn't read this, as I will then be committed to swimming the LCM 400 IM. :)
My advice is to either find someone close to your age in the times database who is close to your yards 400 time and see what thier time is in lcm. Either that or ask your coach to time trial you (if possible) and then I would suggest shaving about 5% from that time to account for the meet affect.
The first time I swam the 400 LCM IM, I used a time converter to guesstimate an entry time, and I did not swim anywhere near as fast as the conversion tool predicted. I was something like 9 or 10 seconds slower. I think the main reason for that is that breaststroke is my weakest stroke by far, and in long course I have to swim far more breaststroke than I do in short course, where I can use the additional pullouts to hide. So if you're awesome at breaststroke then this might not be an issue for you, but if you're like me then expect to go slower than the conversion tools predict.
Thanks so much! Just the advice I was looking for. My strengths are back and free so I will round up a little.
