What's the fastest you can imagine going?

MBannon · Jan 21, 2008

Even in my wildest imaginings, I can't visualize moving as fast as some of these elite athletes who swim 1:15/100 yds, bike 26+ mph, and then run 5:30 min/mile. Inconceivable! 
Which got me to thinking. How fast can I imagine going? And does that change over time? How fast can other people imagine racing? 
I'll start. I can not make my brain envision going any faster than: 
Swim - 1:20/100 yards for a mile. 
Bike - 24.5 mph for 25 miles. 
Run - 5:40 min/mile for 6.1 miles.

COcarrie · Jan 21, 2008

Funny you should ask this, as I was thinking about this yesterday while skiing. I'm sort of a speed chicken and yet told my husband that after cycling more last year and getting more comfortable with "speed" (it's all relative!) on the bike, I felt better about skiing faster this year. I mean, my running and swimming are s...l...o...w. 
For me.... speedy would be faster than 8.5 min mile running, faster than an avg of 22+ mph on a bike course, and faster than 30 min for a mile swim. I still wouldn't win any races with that, but I'd feel mighty fast!

bcc594 · Jan 21, 2008

I don't know - don't think I want to know. When I started swimming, I couldn't imagine ever doing a 2500 - 3000m workout. Now, they seem pretty ordinary. This kind of reminds me of the 'goals' thread we had over at CR. I'm eager to hear what folks have to say. 
The speeds I can't imagine right now are faster than what's faster than I am right now. If I can get better, then what's not 'possible' all of sudden becomes my next step.

rottensquirrel · Jan 21, 2008

Swim 1:45/100yd for half mile 
Bike 20 mph for 10 miles 
Run 7 min/mile for 5K 
I am not even close to these goals but I can envision them.

SpartyGirl · Jan 22, 2008

8:30 pace on the run, any run for that matter. I tend to like comfortable speeds, nice and slow. 
20:00/1000m swim-this is one of my goals...right now I'm at 22:39. I know that I will hit this speed in the next couple of months. I know it. 
18+mph on the bike. I'm a 'speed chicken' like Carrie was talking about. Last year I did 12.9 and 14.1 for my races...S.L.O.W. A lot of that is getting used to riding.

Kate60 · Jan 22, 2008

Me and fast will never be in the same sentence. Luckily for me though speed is not that important to me. 
Some goal paces I would like to hit this year are: 
8:30 min/mile run 
20 mph bike 
1:45 min/yd swim

4boysmom · Jan 22, 2008

I did a 5K on New Years and held a 7:35pace. I never, ever thought that was possible! 
Bike, way back when I was a kid I used to average 15-18mph for tours. That ain't happening these days. Not sure what I can do these days. 
Swim, I still suck at swimming, so as long as I'm not finishing DFL, I'm happy!

hobey · Jan 22, 2008

Good question. 
For me 
Swim - 1:40/100 m 
Bike - 20+ mph on flats 
Run - Sub 8 min miles

jroden · Jan 22, 2008

I have a few friends who go 30 for a 40K, I really want to get to that level, I'm not sure if I have the genetics, mental toughness or position but it's something on the outer bounds of what I'd like to be able to do. 
For running, I'd like to be able to break 6 minutes pace for 5 miles, I have run much faster many moons ago so I can see it in my mind, but my body really strains so many years later...

MBannon · Jan 22, 2008

Okay, now that's pretty fast.

jroden · Jan 22, 2008

that's MPH, not minutes, I don't know anyone who ride 50 mph...

teacherjen · Jan 22, 2008

Hmmm...interesting question... 
I can imagine myself going 20+ mph average on the bike.....last season I just to just 19.8mph over 10 miles and 18.6 early season for 25 miles, so I think for 10-15 miles, I could possibly go 20 or 21 mph. 
With running, last season I was imagining going 8 min miles for a 5K, but after ITBS, I have a hard time imagining that anymore!!! Hopefully as I lose the weight I've gained since my injury I'll get back to that dream... 
I don't know about the pool....I feel like such a slug in the pool so far this winter!! I'd love 1:30/100, but can only envision maybe 1:40. 
jen

NBjunkie · Jan 22, 2008

what a great question!! 
you guys are all fast! 
Today--I feel like a fat slug--so I am not even going to say what I think I can do! 
But would LOVE to run under 10m/miles 
----------------------------no idea on swimming (not a swimming--I just try not to drown) 
----------------------------bike--I average 22mph on the bike gym (but not the same on the road)--when I get my new bike computer, I will take my bike off the trainer and see how fast I really ride?

LeftRightRepeat · Jan 22, 2008

What's the fastest I can imagine going? 
I must be more imaginative than use guys... 
In the swim, I've pushed pretty hard of the wall and I've even dragged behind a water ski boat - I can imagine sailing through the water like a dolphin - able to leap through the air at will. 
On the bike - I've hit 40 or more on some downhills and ridden a fair number of motorcycles - I can imagine being in the biggest gear at my fastest cadence, swooping through corners. 
On the run - I've watched the leaders at Boston and track events at the Reggie Lewis Center - I can imagine my legs turning like a 100m sprinter for 26.2 miles and I break the tape and wear the laurel wreath!

TheProFromDover · Jan 22, 2008

I find tis question very strange....even my imagination is based in reality.... 
I've swam 100 in 1:35 (PR). I've seen the flags above go by at this speed. I could imagine this for 1.2M, just not in this lifetime. (Actual = 34 m/1.2M) 
I've ridden flat and level at 24 mph. I could imagine riding this speed for 20M, but not if I wasn't drafting my "real biker" buddy. (Actual = 20+mph for 60M) 
I've run a sub 5m mile. In this century I've run a 5:35. I cannot imagine running this pace ever in a race. Gasp. I get real smooth at about 6m/M. I cannot hold it for more than a mile. But I love the feel.

Thor · Jan 22, 2008

This really is an interesting question, one that can be answered many ways depending on interpretation. Do I answer based on what could I imagine my top speed to be in an ideal world with a job only to get fast -- much like a Pro athlete -- or do I answer based on what I think I will do by the time age kicks in and my speed fades? 
I'll think about both: 
If my full time job were to get fast in sport, with no other job, and live the life of a professional athlete, within 5 years I know I could (or would be motivated to try)... 
Swim: 2.4 miles in 1:05 or under. 
Bike: Average 25 mph on a relatively flat 56 mile course or 24 mph for 112. 
Run: Run Ironman marathon in 3:10. Standalone marathon in sub 2:45. 
How fast will I get? 
Swim: 1:15 or under for 2.4 miles. 
Bike: 22 mph for 112 miles on flatter Ironman course. Goal for Lake Placid is to average over 20 mph. It's a slow course. Pro's average 22 mph. Top age groupers 20-21 mph. 
Run: 3:25 or under marathon in Ironman on flatter course. 2:55-2:50 standalone marathon. Think I'll try for that when I'm done with Ironman.

Dougie Fresh · Jan 22, 2008

Swim: I am not even at the point where I can conceive of speed. I only dream of distance which is 1.2mi. Bike: 20-22mph avg. on a particular hilly 15mi course. I've easily hit 40mph on a good downhill. I have a speedometer on my bike and I know what speed is. Run: This is another place I have a hard time with the concept of speed. I have certain goals but no idea what pace I could actually sprint at and how that would compare to someone who could say, run 6:00/mi. I don't even know if I can or have run that pace in an all-out sprint. I think it'd be over the moon if I could ever run 3mi in 24:00 (8:00/mi). Triathlon: Podium someday in the Clydes at Timberman. 
I am sure my inner-speediness in swimming and running is limited by my lack of imagination. If I can't imagine it how can I achieve it? 
My imagination for triathlon seems to be pretty lofty. I can't achieve that without being fast in each. I am even imagining cracking the top 10 or 15 this year. There is some disconnect here <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">.

Kybear · Jan 22, 2008

Swim: actual 2:00 per 100yd, goal 1:45. I've never swam competitively till recently. 
Bike: actual 20.5 in hilly ky, goal 22-23 in hilly ky. I've never ridden a flat course, so I'm interested in seeing how I do one day. 
Run: actual 7:15 for 5K, goal 6:15.

Stu373 · Jan 22, 2008

With all the training time I wanted and being injury free I could imagine.... Swim: 2.4 in 1:15 Bike: 22 mph avg for 112 Run: 26.2 in 3:30 
Now if genetics weren't an issue.... I could imagine myself running flat out as I pass Macca on the finishing stretch in Kona to steal the win. We are talking imagination aren't we??

therambler · Jan 22, 2008

2 years ago I was able to devote most of my attention to training I stuck to my training plan but one day I just want to see what I could do. I could do a 5:40/Mile for 18Miles which total blew my mind! <img alt="shock.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/shock.gif"> At that point I had been running 7:00s max during training. 
It is a totally different world at those speeds! Running faster than 5:40s I couldn't imagine that, My long legs weren't meant to go faster! I don't know how the elites can do close to 4:50s over long races. Swim: I couldn't imagine doing an IM swim faster than 1:05, Thats flying! Bike: 25.0mph average on a century would be amazing!

What's the fastest you can imagine going?

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