Common Canadian swim targets
- 1500 m sub-30:00 — 2:00 per 100 m
- 1500 m sub-25:00 — 1:40 per 100 m
- 800 m sub-15:00 — 1:52 per 100 m
- 400 m sub-7:00 — 1:45 per 100 m
- 100 m sub-1:30 — 1:30 per 100 m
Pool vs open water
Pool swims benefit from wall pushes (~0.5 seconds per turn for an average adult) and a straight-line path. Open water adds sighting strokes, current, chop, and the cost of swimming a slightly curved path because you can’t see the bottom line. For a 1500 m, plan an extra 90–120 seconds in open water relative to your pool best.
Pace vs effort
Like running, pace is a target — effort is what you actually deliver. Wetsuits, water temperature, post-race fatigue, sea state, and the draft off another swimmer can all shift the pace you can hold for a given heart rate. Use the calculator to plan, but treat the watch and your body as the authority on race day.