calculating open water swim distances

Former Member
Former Member
I was wondering how people calculated open water distances? I started to swim in Long Beach, CA and was wondering if there was something that can help me figure out distances, for example, if there was a standard distance between life guard stations or beach bathrooms (I tried talking to the lifeguards but no one knew :confused: )
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Have seen tri races of varied distances it just depends who is running them. Swimming distances are varied so I would train to maximize speed. Lots of 100s, 200s and 400s with short rests. How do you determine how far you swim, count strokes per minute. I found that I could swim one mile in about 21 minutes at 64 strokes per minute. Herman Willamese took 75 strokes a minute to swim the same time for one mile. Current controls your time I have gone as fast as a half mile in 7 min with the current and 14 min and up against the current. Find a place where you can measure out a quarter or half mile course and do a two way swim. I used my car and plotted it out as close as possible (not a trig guy) Once you establish a swim count per minute to give you the time you want, you will take the time you swim and you will be able to tell your approx speed. You only have to have your strokes counted occasionally once you are used to pacing yourself by strokes.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Have seen tri races of varied distances it just depends who is running them. Swimming distances are varied so I would train to maximize speed. Lots of 100s, 200s and 400s with short rests. How do you determine how far you swim, count strokes per minute. I found that I could swim one mile in about 21 minutes at 64 strokes per minute. Herman Willamese took 75 strokes a minute to swim the same time for one mile. Current controls your time I have gone as fast as a half mile in 7 min with the current and 14 min and up against the current. Find a place where you can measure out a quarter or half mile course and do a two way swim. I used my car and plotted it out as close as possible (not a trig guy) Once you establish a swim count per minute to give you the time you want, you will take the time you swim and you will be able to tell your approx speed. You only have to have your strokes counted occasionally once you are used to pacing yourself by strokes.
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