I've been training for my first open-water swim in a lap pool. The event is only one mile and I've been swimming it in about 29 minutes. Is that fast or not? I'm not entirely sure. Also, how does lap pool swimming translate to open water in terms of time. I know I need to take into consideration the sighting, temperature and not having walls to stop at/push off, but should I expect to swim it in 29 minutes? Or is that unrealistic?:cane:
Former Member
i'd say you'll swim slower. But I don't think anyone can say to 100% either way.
it depends on currents too. a down stream river swim would be much faster. an up stream river swim would be much slower.
my best 1500m pool time is 20:00 and my best ow 3km is 36:40. it's really had to imagine trying to swim another 1500 after my frist but 4 min faster.
if the race allows wetsuits, then you will swim faster, but not sure if the total time will be faster.
then there is the race factor. do you train as fast as you can? if not then maybe you could swim faster in a race. I swam 2km out in the lake wednesday in 28:45 a nice an easy evening swim. i'll probably go out for a 3km swim sunday and it will take 43-46 minutes.
The race is in the Great Salt Lake, where the salinity is 10 times higher than most oceans, so I will be floating pretty well. However, the water will be about 62 degrees. I'm told that's pretty freakin cold. I'm using just a jammer, so hopefully the temperature won't cripple me the second I get in.
62 actually is pretty cold. Wish I could give advice there, but as you may have seen in another thread, water temperature and its effects seem to be highly personalized. I swam the Big Shoulders 5K last year in 62 degrees, and I ended up liking that temperature. Others didn't like it so much.
The race is in the Great Salt Lake, where the salinity is 10 times higher than most oceans, so I will be floating pretty well. However, the water will be about 62 degrees. I'm told that's pretty freakin cold. I'm using just a jammer, so hopefully the temperature won't cripple me the second I get in.
How did it go?
I did OK. Finished 13th out of 25 swimmers in the one-mile race. My time was 33 minutes, 39 seconds. Not great, but I was satisfied with it, considering it was my first open water race. The cold wasn't bad at all. It ended up being about 65 degrees and I got used to it pretty quick. Still having a hard time eating though, because the salt from that lake pickled my tongue. That was easily the biggest problem I had, but that must be entirely unique to that race. You can see the photos from the race here . I was number 12 (written on arms and swim cap).
Nice job. I'm glad it ended up being 65--I was a little worried about 62. Sounds like a small difference, but 62 is pushing it for me. I work pretty hard trying to acclimate to lower temperatures, but it's tough.
I knew about the salt water making people's tongue swell up, but I'm surprised to hear it last this long.
I did OK. Finished 13th out of 25 swimmers in the one-mile race. My time was 33 minutes, 39 seconds. Not great, but I was satisfied with it, considering it was my first open water race. The cold wasn't bad at all. It ended up being about 65 degrees and I got used to it pretty quick. Still having a hard time eating though, because the salt from that lake pickled my tongue. That was easily the biggest problem I had, but that must be entirely unique to that race. You can see the photos from the race here . I was number 12 (written on arms and swim cap).
