Triathalon Swimming Question

[StantonHyde]

I signed up for my first tri (a sprint) this summer. I have run for a long time but it has been about 20 years since I did a biathalon and longer than that since I biked regularly. I am not nervous about the biking--its easy for me. But the swimming....

How long should it take me to swim 350 yds? 30 minutes? I average about a 10 minute mile running (I run anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on the time of year, what I am getting in shape for) and I used to do 20-25 miles an hour biking. When I did swim lo those many years ago it took me about an hour to swim a mile. It is a 5k and an 11 mile bike. So I am figuring an hour (at least what with transitions etc) to do those 2 phases. But I have no idea on swimming.

To make it more interesting, the order will backwards: run, bike, swim. The swim is in a pool. So on the one hand I will be tired when I swim but at least I can touch the bottom of the pool or hang on the edge and rest if I have to!!

I am doing the "overtrain the distance" method vs. doing bricks etc. because I have about 6 hours a week to train. I got in the water today for the first time and swam 15 minutes ok. (I didn't want to do more because I don't know how sore I am going to be) The triathalon is in 5 weeks (I know, it is way too soon and I am way too late) but I figured I could bump up the time by 5 minutes or so every week and be ok by race day.

Any thoughts on how long it might take me would be much appreciated. And comments on my training are also welcome

[rprav8r]

I am a pretty good (but pretty out of shape - hadn't swum laps since 2 days before my 7 m.o. DD was born!) swimmer and yesterday I did 700 in about 20 min. If I were you, I'd just go to a pool and time yourself doing 125 and multiply by 3.

IME a lot of beginner triathletes are weakest in the swim, so if it takes you 30 min or more with lots of breaks, I think you'll find yourself in good company.

[tylersmama]

I think you're WAY overestimating your swim time. Even with doing the swim last. 350 yards is really not very much. I am NOT a fast swimmer, and I did a 500 yd pool swim in my first tri of the summer a few weeks ago in around 10 1/2 minutes. And for even more comparisons, my very first tri two years ago, which was an open water swim, which I breast-stroked the whole thing...either 750 or 800 m (can't remember) in 25 minutes.

I think you'll be fine. Did you count how many lengths of the pool you did today? Rather than swimming for time in the pool, I would probably try to swim for distance. Start with 200 or 250, then check the time and see how long it took you. I think you'll be surprised. You have enough time that, even with only swimming once a week, you should be able to work yourself up to at least 500-800 yds. And if you can do 800 yds, you can do 350 after biking and running. Without a doubt.

[lizajane]

Originally Posted by tylersmama

I think you're WAY overestimating your swim time. Even with doing the swim last. 350 yards is really not very much. .

i was a swimmer. not distance, but still... a 500 was a warm up for us in practice rather often. a 350 is only 14 laps. my brother is standing next to me, so i asked him. he was a state champion swimmer as a teen. he said at his best, he could swim a 500 in 5 minutes. granted, that was when he beat michael phelps... (At age 12) but still... if a champion could do it in 5, i think a novice swimmer who is an athlete could do a 350 in 15.

[jenmcadams]

Originally Posted by lizajane

i was a swimmer. not distance, but still... a 500 was a warm up for us in practice rather often. a 350 is only 14 laps. my brother is standing next to me, so i asked him. he was a state champion swimmer as a teen. he said at his best, he could swim a 500 in 5 minutes. granted, that was when he beat michael phelps... (At age 12) but still... if a champion could do it in 5, i think a novice swimmer who is an athlete could do a 350 in 15.

I was going to say the same thing...I would guess you could easily finish in 15-20 minutes and probably less than 15 (especially considering you could push off the wall each 25)

[niccig]

If you get tired with freestyle, swap over to breaststroke. You'll be a little slower on the breaststroke lap, but you can recover enough to swim a good freestyle lap.

[lizajane]

Originally Posted by niccig

If you get tired with freestyle, swap over to breaststroke. You'll be a little slower on the breaststroke lap, but you can recover enough to swim a good freestyle lap.

or flip onto your back so you can catch your breath a little on a backstroke lap.

[StantonHyde]

Thanks ladies. I am not sure how long the indoor pool is at the JCC but I will ask how many laps I have to do to make 350 next time I go. I did swap breast and freestyle today and it helped alot. It also helped to just relax and do it (by the last 5 minutes it was much better). We'll see how sore my shoulders are tomorrow!!

[mom_hanna]

Originally Posted by StantonHyde

When I did swim lo those many years ago it took me about an hour to swim a mile.

I did my first tri (an Olympic) a few weeks ago. The open water 1500 meter swim took me 25 minutes. That said, from your previous swim time, even though you have just begun swimmimg again, I wouldn't think it would take you more than 15 minutes to do a 350. Probably less. Good luck with training! I also trained for 5 weeks after hemming and hawing about signing up as the date got closer and closer. Now I am hooked.

[tylersmama]

FWIW, *most* indoor recreational pools are 25 yds. There are a few that are 25 m instead, but I'd be surprised if your JCC pool is anything but 25 yds.

mom_hanna~you're fast! My oly swim time last summer was 35 minutes. Did you do the Loveland Lake to Lake? I'm doing Boulder Peak in two weeks and then Rattlesnake in August...