My wife being a runner asked yesterday after I completed a 2.3ish mile swim what is the equivalent swimming-wise to a marathon. Because she had always assumed that a 2.4 mile swim would be like running a marathon since it's part of the Ironman Tri.
I didn't really feel like completing that swim that I would compare it to a marathon. While I was pooped and sore, it was not like having my muscles ripped to shreds and hurting to move several days.
Any thoughts?
Also the other discussion we had was the fact that in a running or biking race, you really are running/biking that distance, but in a swim you are doing some n amount more than the straight distance. For swimming your fighting the waves and your own ability to swim straight that you do some amount more. I've thought "how great would it be if I could place a gps tracker around my ankle that I could plot my swim and see how much I really did."
I was a cross country runner in High school and ran up to a 1/2 marathon. I am not a very competitive swimmer but I was not a particularly competitive runner. I do not think there is any way to compare running to swimming. In swimming you can get a level of effort and stay smooth with technique so you feel like you could go forever. Whatever distance you would do in the time it would take you to do a marathon still wouldn't compare effort-wise. In the water you are never fighting gravity; if you do it right it feels like gravity is helping you. In my case I'd do 8 minute miles, so 3.3 hours, and I swim 2 miles per hour. (over 6 miles). I'm guessing closer to 10 miles, at least.
I'm sure there's data on the energy expnded for the long distance swimmers versus long distant runners at the elite level. A valid comparison would have to be based on caloric output.
Former Member
The rule of thumb I've heard a lot is that it's 4 to 1, i.e., a mile of swimming is equal to four miles of running, a 100 yard swim is equal to a 400 yard swim. I don't know how accurate that is -- it's probably based on times, but it seems to me that it might not work for any given swimmer or runner. :dunno: Anyway, if it's valid that would mean the closest equivalent race to a marathon run (26.2 miles) would be a 10K swim (6.2) miles.
Former Member
Thanks everyone. I figured it'd be in the 5-6 mile territory and I agree there is a certain ease where I can keep moving at a decent pace swimming, but running I get to a "ok I'm ready to just stop people".
I'm definitely a sprinter when it comes to the pool, but I'm getting more curious with these open water swims just how far I could go. 10k swim here I come! :0
Former Member
I tried to figure this out before. I figure it different for everyone. My swimming efficiency is way lower them most to all y'all, but I'd say my running efficiency is at the high end.
I figured by time and perceived effort that (for me) 350m = 1 mile so If I swam 5 3/4 miles I would have completed a marathon.
:2cents:
Former Member
Sorry. Server trouble.
Former Member
Wow, this is a great topic! If anyone finds any scientific evidence comparing the two events, please share! Off the subject, I do know that swimming anything past 16 miles is considered marathon swimming. But vs. running, not a clue!
Former Member
Thanks everyone. I figured it'd be in the 5-6 mile territory and I agree there is a certain ease where I can keep moving at a decent pace swimming, but running I get to a "ok I'm ready to just stop people".
I'm definitely a sprinter when it comes to the pool, but I'm getting more curious with these open water swims just how far I could go. 10k swim here I come! :0
Gary in running you can stop anytime anywhere. In pool swimming you have to at least get to a wall. In OW, you have two choices: just keep swimming or :drown:
In elite level swimming a 10k swim takes a bit under 2 hours. For eloite runners the marathon takes a bit over 2 hours. So pretty darn close in that regard.
The ironman tri distances were simply the distances of the waikiki roughwater swim, around oahu bike race, and honolulu marathon. They weren't picked because they were in any way equivalent, they were just kinda picked, over a few beers.
Former Member
In elite level swimming a 10k swim takes a bit under 2 hours. For eloite runners the marathon takes a bit over 2 hours. So pretty darn close in that regard.
The ironman tri distances were simply the distances of the waikiki roughwater swim, around oahu bike race, and honolulu marathon. They weren't picked because they were in any way equivalent, they were just kinda picked, over a few beers.
I beleive that is the best way to pick a course.
