Estimating swim time for pool swim tri

I've always put down what I thought I'd swim it in. With the exception of my first race (when I guestimated my time 1 mo after I started swimming & 2 mo prior to race), I've finished the swim withing 5 seconds of my predicted time. Triathlon is an individual sport; quit worrying about what everybody else is doing and  focus on YOUR plan. If you have to pass people, so be it.

Also, in my experience, it's much better when you get under 5:00 for a 300yd swim. The range of swimmers near the 6:00 time mark are completely all over the place.

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If you have any question, do a 500 m TT and the figure it out based on that time. If you put a faster time then you can swim, you should feel bad about slowing up swimmers who put down their actual times.

If you put a faster time then you can swim, you should feel bad about slowing up swimmers who put down their actual times.

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Yeah I'm going to put down what I think I will swim, I'll do a 300 sometime this week to see how I come out, I've changed a few things recently and should be a few seconds faster.

I said I was going to put down 15 sec faster, but I can't consciously do it when I sign up, so I'll put down what I get for my time in the pool this week.

I looked at some old results though and one guy that swam it 6:14 last year put down 4:29 and another person pooped out at me with a 3:30 so I googled her, found her blog, and this will be her first triathlon ever.

But in all there are only about 15 or so out of 105 signed up that put down a time faster than me, so hopefully not too many get in my way, and I certainly don't want to hold anyone up either.

OTOH- A large (8-900) local pool swim sprint I've done is well-done for the Liar's Poker that goes on in estimating swim times.  One year as an honest 8:45/400M swimmer- despite time trial (5-10sec) starts I had 23 (yes23-my wife took picture from natatorium balcony) swimmers backed up waiting to make one lane switch.  Cost me over 2 min & much frustration. Next yr I dropped my self-reported swim time & STILL was held up by many overoptimistic swimmers.

I would look at prior year results to see how you might fit in among those participants (fast-medium-slow), then report accordingly.

1. No one should ever poop at you, it's against the rules of conduct.

2. If she's a former competitive swimmer that should easily be her time.

It is indeed a game of liar's poker.  I keep dropping my (not quite honest times) and still haven't gotten to the right place in line.  Last Olympic ocean swim I put down a very aggressive time and still passed 25+ people.  I haven't learned well enough, evidently.

No way I would put down an honest time.  Put down a time you think will slot you in about the right spot.  Two very different things.

They vary, The one I did was a 'snake swim'. Up one side of the lane, back down the other side, cross under lane divider, repeat. Swimmers left at 10 second intervals IIRC. You started in the water and had to lift yourself out at the end (not at the ladder), the water level was on the low side and you couldn't touch bottom where you got out. So climbing out was an extra bit of challenge for some people. They also had all the 'beginners' go at the end at 15 second intervals.

My first pool swim I was like 30 seconds faster than what I put down but I was brand new to swimming when I signed up. Standing around the pool watching the faster swimmers it was obvious many people lied about their times, some people where passed by 2, 3 or more people. I think it is totally wrong that these people can mess up other peoples race with no penalty, it is very difficult to pass someone in the pool.

I was going to say you should be DQed if you are x amount slower than the time you put in but I like the previous posters idea of a time penalty. Edit - You could probably work something out to give more leeway if the previous swimmer was slow.

This year I am going to time myself when I train and use that time (IE as honest as possible) and I will not feel one bit of regret if I have to swim over the (liar) person in front of me.

nm