Beginning Swimmer

Cutoff is generally 2hr:20min.

That means, you need to be under 2:20 be allowed to continue to the bike to "just finish". That's about a 03:18 time per 100 yards. 

How far are you going in your 45 min swims? 

IMO, I would focus on shorter distances without even worrying about IM swims for quite a while.  Once you complete your first sprint, you'll have a much better idea of "how hard" an IM swim could be.

Of course, swimming in a pool is much different than open water with lots of other athletes, so that adds to the difficulty, too.

Welcome to the board and good luck! 

Did anyone else read this the way that I did?

Edited by mktoson 2010-09-13 1:16 PM

Haha. Yes.

Anyway, are you following a training plan that was written for you, one you found, one you made up, etc?

Was that 2:19 100yd a max effort or a steady effort?
 

Welcome to BT!

Are you thinking of training to do just the swim leg of an iron race relay, or were you thinking of training for an iron-distance race?

Like any race or distance, the swim is doable if you train and prepare properly. At your current distances and paces, you should probably look into some swimming lessons to improve your stroke technique and efficiency. Swimming is very different from cycling and running in that it's critical to get proper form down first.

HAHAHAHA!!!  OOPS!!! 

It is at a steady pace where i can still maintain my breathing and tecnique.  and I am followwing a program I found online.  the name is someting like "0to1650"

I was planning on do several shorter distances in 2012, after i have my swimming ligs under me.  As far as lessons go I have looked into some but really cant afford anything long term, 1 or 2 sessions per month is all i can afford right now so I wonder how effective they can be with such limited time. 

I think I found it. It builds pretty quickly! If it works, great!

See if you can find a swimmer friend to check out your stroke and technique.  

I can't count laps, either, and I've been swimming for 20 years...

If you can afford 1-2-1 lessons with underwater filming you will find a huge improvement after only a couple of lessons. It is amazing how different you look to what it feels like when you swim. I had 2 lessons a couple of years ago in an endless pool and it made a massive difference. Obviously the more you have the better your technique will get and the swim is all about technique compared to bike and run. For your ironman you want your swim to be comfortable so you are not exiting the water out of breath or with a high HR. That is much easier to accomplish with good technique as you will be relaxed and smooth through the water.

It took me a full year of swimming 2-3 times per week to do "almost" a mile. I haven't officially done it yet. Close... I was a non-swimmer.