True OW conversion...

RE: True OW conversion...

rtodd — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:50:46 GMT

On a "true" openwater course what do you consider an appropriate time conversion? By true I mean, no current, accurate distance not swimming into too many folks and not going off course. Another way to ask is I went a 25:46 in an 2000M in a LCM pool. That is 1:17.5 per 100M. What could I expect to swim in an open water 1500M per 100? Thoughts? To answer your question, I might guess you could hold 1:27's? That's with a wetsuit and if your navigating is good and water is flat.

RE: True OW conversion...

rtodd — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:46:28 GMT

This spring I went 12:56 for 1000 yards in the pool. Thats a 1:18 100yd pace. Sunday I swam a 1000m tri in a wetsuit and went 16:30. Figure minus 30 sec. for a long run to transition and that's about a 1:27 100yd pace. I wore a wetsuit and navigating was good. I had to swim through a slower wave, but was not held up too bad. FYI, I had a better time by a few seconds than someone in the pool at the meet where I went 12:56. He swam the tri leg on Sunday in 15:02. That's about a 1:20 pace, so he is equal in pace, pool or OW.

RE: True OW conversion...

Former Member — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:06:12 GMT

My very unscientific results from yesterday: wearing the same suit I wore for the T-2000 I swam a "timed" 750 M swim in 10:31 yesterday. That is 1:24 per 100M. I felt pretty good, didn't have any major sighting issues and the conditions were pefectly calm. (I put on a finis amphibian jammer and timed myself again. I went a 9:57. I wonder what a wet-suit would do...)

RE: True OW conversion...

Former Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:34:24 GMT

I am going to be training here www.pureaustin.com/Aquatics.aspx tomorrow morning. First ever time to train in an OW facility. I have a long and detailed log of my training. 2 years ago I swam two 800M for time in the same week, one LCM and the other SCM. I remember the swims pretty well and would say that the effort level was fairly equivalent. Anyhow there was a 23 second time difference between the two swims, 10:05 and 10:28 I was not in great shape at that time, I would say "okay" shape which may have slightly distorted the 800M long course time. but disregarding that 16 extra turns = 23 second advantage = 1.4 seconds per turn/ wall. That adds just under a 1 minute for the timed 2000 (40 walls) which increases the pace to 1:20.5 There is 230M dock to buoy course, I think I will try and do 4 on 3:45 holding right around 3:25. I am really looking forward to this! (How often do you look up to sight???)

RE: True OW conversion...

Former Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:55:56 GMT

I wouldn't dare to try a conversion ratio. Every swimmer handles open water differently. There have been many times when I have beaten someon in open water who easily beats me in the pool (and vice versa). There are far too many variables - even in a controled open water event - that makes a standard conversion ratio remotely possible. Suffice it to say, however, you will go slower per 100m in OW than you do in the pool. After you have done a bunch of OW swims, you will then be better able to create your own personal conversion.

RE: True OW conversion...

Former Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:59:17 GMT

I would estimate that each wall is worth 2 seconds. So your 1:17 pace goes to 1:21 -1:22 right there. Then factor in navigation, sighting, chop, etc, and I would expect your comparative pool pace drops to something like 1:25 - 1:27. But you will probably be revved up and ready to outperform your pool swim, so you may beat that.

RE: True OW conversion...

fatboy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:53:46 GMT

Only one way to tell. Get in the open water and swim!

RE: True OW conversion...

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:18:38 GMT

Not sure that you could ever compare a pool time and an open water time - unless it was an OW Cable swim - or there was somehow a line to follow on the bottom.

RE: True OW conversion...

rtodd — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:49:35 GMT

If you are wearing a wetsuit, I would guess you could hold 1:17 for 1000m. Without I would guess 1:20 or 1:22. Just a guess. It's a great question though.