Anyone have a reasonably accurate approximation of how their SCY pace per 100 translates when swimming open water? Assuming calm conditions and no navigation issues I'm curious what other people would use to estimate a 5K OW time based on say a 1000 SCY time of 12:30. Any thoughts?
Former Member
Are you swimming at my feet or am I swimming at yours?
There are too many variables to give you a useful answer. Water surface conditions, temperature of water, currents, measurement accuracy of the course distance, navigation (always a factor), salt water or fresh water, etc. And then there is the infamous: what suit will you wear. :-)
Don't know if this is any help - I swim meters, not yards :)
However - it takes me a little more than 20 minutes to finish 1500 SCM, that's just above 1.20 per 100 m.
In a wet suit, under good conditions, I finish 5 km OW in about 1H13, that's just below 1.28 per 100 m.
Don't know if this is any help - I swim meters, not yards :)
However - it takes me a little more than 20 minutes to finish 1500 SCM, that's just above 1.20 per 100 m.
In a wet suit, under good conditions, I finish 5 km OW in about 1H13, that's just below 1.28 per 100 m.
Good conditions = Easy navigation, no current (going back and forth), no wind, water temperature around 19C, air around 22C.
Good conditions = Easy navigation, no current (going back and forth), no wind, water temperature around 19C, air around 22C.
Just a thought. If you are experienced you may in fact be good at navigating. if you are not experienced you may find it daunting unless you are one of the exceptions. I find that in 19c water I swim well and fast. No problem with overheating.
It is hard to say about the current. If the water is still then no current. If you are swimming with the current one way and against it the other way it is a completely different thing. Go to an airport and go on a moving side walk. Walk SLOWLY in the direction of its movement. Now walk SLOWLY in the opposite direction. The first question is did you ever even reach the other end of the second leg or were you moving backward. More than one swimmer has abandoned a race because they could not make any headway, or because they made so little headway the faded. Lesson is: swimming with and then against a current, always takes longer and sometimes forever. :-) Probably doesn't apply to your swim but it is something to keep in mind.
It was just information. I was trying to be helpful - Skinny asked, I answered the best I could, referring to an OW event where things really WERE very easy and somehow comparable to pool swims :)
This 5 km OW was in a canal and a lagoon. Navigation mostly by the nearby banks and the water was very calm.
I've done OW swims in heavy current (downstream and countercurrently), huge waves and bad weather too. And you're completely right: That IS a totally different story, that you already kind of covered in your answer :)
It was just information. I was trying to be helpful - Skinny asked, I answered the best I could, referring to an OW event where things really WERE very easy and somehow comparable to pool swims :)
This 5 km OW was in a canal and a lagoon. Navigation mostly by the nearby banks and the water was very calm.
I've done OW swims in heavy current (downstream and countercurrently), huge waves and bad weather too. And you're completely right: That IS a totally different story, that you already kind of covered in your answer :)
I wasn't trying to be critical. Just adding more info to the discussion. Sorry if I offended you.
Anyone have a reasonably accurate approximation of how their SCY pace per 100 translates when swimming open water? Assuming calm conditions and no navigation issues I'm curious what other people would use to estimate a 5K OW time based on say a 1000 SCY time of 12:30. Any thoughts?
I haven't done the 1000 free since being back in Masters (I might next month though) but my "guess" is that your time is about where I was last summer. I did two 5K's (one Intercoastal with the tide, one lake), the intercoastal I did in just over 51 minutes I think and the lake swim I did in like 62 maybe.
