Swim Serpentine and the utterly crap swimmer

[SquirmOfEels]

I noticed this, and was wondering about how crap you can be and still not interfere with the smooth running of the event.

I swim really badly, but can plod on for quite long distances taking a shockingly long time. So, for the half-mile event, what would be a good time, a typical time for a not-very-good VW, and the 'they'd probably want to be closing the course by about now' time?

Half a mile is about 800 meters. I'd say an average time for a decent amateur would be around 20 minutes. A good time would be finished in 10-15 minutes, exceptional under 10 mins.

My guess would be that they'd be expecting most to be finished within 45 minutes. If it's a 25m pool (32 lengths), that's around a minute and a half per length and a very slow plod-rate.

There may be children doing the event (?), in which case they may allow even longer time. It's not unusual for pools to give an hour over to children doing distance swims.

Thank you!

I think it counts as open water (in the Serpentine, Hyde Park) and I think I could do it in about 35 mins, or not too much longer.

Does anyone know this specific event (as in thread title) and how competitive it is?

OIC, I didn't realise it was open water

I'm just a swimming-mum, with children who swim longer distances competitively so I answered because I had decent knowledge of times for a set distance. Open water may well be quicker, what with having no turns. I'd say you'd be fine at 35 minutes.

I don't know this event specifically but it looks like there is no cut off time and would expect the 800m event participants to be mostly people doing it for fun and a first open water swim so not hugely competitive. I'd still expect most will complete it faster than 35 minutes so it's how you feel at coming in at the back.

Open water is normally slower for most than a pool, due to the lack of turns and push offs. Although for some people, wearing a wetsuit can improve speed slightly, especially for those swimmers who aren't very strong.

Theres no cut off time, and theres a huge variety of people swimming. I did it last year, and as a one armed swimmer obv take longer than others and it was no problem and great fun

This is so helpful, but oh dear - I'm tempted!

I've just entered! I've never done anything like this and tend to do old lady style breastfeeding stroke. I can swim a slow but continuous mike in the pool so hoping half a mike outside will be manageable.

Breast stroke!

Do you mean 'head up' breaststroke, beloved by young women who want to keep their hair as dry as possible?

Because I tend to fall back to that as well. I can do proper breaststroke, but cannot crawl

Yes, head up, chin on surface of the water. It sounds pathetic, but I'm a bit squeamish about putting my face in the Serpent. I can't do crawl at all.