Swim Pace per 100 Target Calculator
Enter a goal swim distance and finish time to get the pace per 100 you must hold, plus the split for each 25, 50 and length.
How it works
Pace per 100 = total time ÷ (distance ÷ 100) · Split per length = pace/100 × (pool ÷ 100)
A swim pace is simply the finish time spread evenly across the distance, expressed per 100 metres because that is the unit pace clocks and coaches use. Dividing that pace down to the pool length gives the exact split you should read off the wall each time you touch — the clearest way to hold an even effort. Fade even a couple of seconds per 100 and the target slips away over a long swim, so watching the per-length split keeps you honest.
Worked example
A 1,500 m swim in 30:00 is 1,800 seconds over 15 hundred-metre segments, so 120 s — a 2:00 per 100 pace. In a 25 m pool that is 0:30 on every length; slower than that and you are behind schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Why is swim pace measured per 100?
Pool pace clocks, coaching sets and race splits are almost all built around 100 m (or 100 yd) intervals, so per-100 pace is the common language of the sport. It also divides cleanly into 50s and 25s for reading splits off the wall.
How do I hold an even pace across a long swim?
Convert the per-100 target into a per-length split and check the pace clock each time you touch the wall. If you are drifting slow early, small corrections are far easier than trying to claw back a big deficit near the end.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.