Counting Swim Laps

Nate Parady

I'm headed back to the pool for the first time in 6 months and wanted to see what other folks are doing to count laps while swimming...I have a really hard time keeping track and usually revert to using the clock i.e. "I'm going to swim for 5 minutes then take a short break".  I have also tried counting through the use of the alphabet with only slighty better results. 

Its going to be hard to do a 1,000M TT if I can't keep track of how far I've gone.

Looking for a low tech solution (or inexpensive one)..

Thanks.

Keith Wick

I usually hit the lap button on my watch every 50 or 100 yds/meters. Even with this system, I typically screw it up once or twice, but I can then figure out what I messed up based on the time of the lap. I've heard other people bring a cup of pennys and move them from one side to the other every lap.

Sue Chapman

Agreed - I can hardly keep track of a 200 so I broke down and bought a lap counter ($40) - love it - now I can think more about form and less about what lap I'm doing (although I still use the clock for timing short distances):

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/4026.htm

 

vrk3ds

I'm curious if anyone has worked a good way to use the Garmin 310xt for this? basically a stopwatch/lap timer??

rodfunction

Scott...I have use mine for this. nothing more than a glorified stopwatch. but I had the data to down load in the computer and keep me honest. I simply set the mode to other and start swimming. I hit the lap button every time I complete.

Again nothing earth shattering when evaluating data, but I do get to see every lap logged in. Oh and if my plan that day call for rest intervals I let that lap keep going so when I look back i can see how long a break I took.

Coach Rich

The swimmer in my cringes at the thought of a lap counter or hitting a stop watch button at the end of every 100...

 

Beth_S

The alphabet. I think about words that start with the letter a, then b, etc. It is easier for me to keep track of letters than numbers.

Fergus Whelan

Up until very recently I used a very low tech solution.

I would put my pool sandals at the end of the lane with the toes pointing forward.  After 50m I would reach up and rotate the left sandal through 90 degrees.  After 100m I would rotate it through another 90 degrees after 150m I would rotate it through another 90 degrees and then after 200m it would be back where it started with toes pointing forward.  At this point I would rotate the right pool sandal 90 degrees.

After 250m the left pool sandal was rotated though 90 degrees again and the whole process started again.  Every 200m the righ pool saald roates through 90 degrees.  Using this method I could get to 800m without the sandals both returning to their original position.

 

Fergus

Nate Parady

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...you rock...

Docmartin

@Fergus-I used to do the same thing with a kickboard that was at the end of every lane in my local pool. Now I use the lap button on my wristwatch every 500 yds. If I screw it up (based on time) I make it up the next interval.

Dave Campbell

Heres how I handle that with the boredom and my ADD. I can count to 4 without losing track. So, I do a 100 breathing every 4, 100 every 3, 100 every 1 right side, 100 evry 1 left side, repeat, etc. Then I just figure out many times through that sequence or some version of it I need. So for a 1000, I'd repeat that sequence 2.5 times. Plus I get the benefit of seeing how I feel with different breathing rates, and work both sides evenly.

Norton

I use plastic poker chips.

Daniela

I sing, alternating between "50 Nifty United States" and "Bottles of Beer on the Wall'.

After I've done a 50, I sing "50 Nifty". After 100 I switch to "100 bottles". After150 it's back to "50 nifty". After 200 I switch to "200 bottles". Etc...

I do forget to switch, or lose attention. When that happens, I check my watch under water after I flip. I know it takes about 1:35/100 meters, so I can pretty easily estimate where I'm at.

Nate Parady

@Dave, That's an impressive system...
@Bill, I'll take that idea to the pool on Friday to give it a go...Simple and Easy
@Daniella, too funny...that might just work for me though...

3forme

Lots of good suggestions here.  I especially like the breathing pattern one.

I use my avg 100m swim time to help me figure out how far I've gone. For instance, I know that on longer intervals (200+ meters) I average about 1:30/100m, so by default, I know that when I glance at my stopwatch after my turn and it shows something in the vicinity of  4:30, I know that I've done a 300. If it says 5:15 or so and I know that it takes me about 6 min to do 400m, I must have just completed 350m...etc...etc...etc. It may sound like too much math but it keeps the brain working during those mind-numbing sets and it does get easier with a bit of practice.

Al Truscott

I've been counting strokes for 44 years, so if I ever lose track of lengths, I just divide by the appropriate number, say 14-15 for 25 yd pool. The weird thing is , by now I can not swim WITHOUT counting strokes, it happens automatically. I know this is not helpful advice, but it comes in handy now that my memory is filled with so many other things. I do use the counter on my Timex to keep track of intervals, say 20x50.

Paul Hough

@ Sue - you are speaking my language. I can easily lose count at 200 yards when I'm concentrating on my stroke. I think I'm going to have to break down and buy that little gizmo.

@ Rich - sorry coach, most of the idea above just hurt my head. And when I do a straight 1000 I will certainly lose count once or twice.

penlynwilson

I use the ring counter and the alphabet. If you do the alphabet, you can also make it more interesting by restricting what you can name with the letters - all food, all animals, etc.

zipburn

I just got a pool-mate, the thing works great. I can't count laps for my life and I didn't want to hit the lap button on my 310xt.  Here is the link https://shop.sunrisetri.com/item/140001/ .  If anyone is interested they offer free shipping and use the coupon code: slowtwitch 

The coupon will give you 10% off. 

delesh

I always seem to let my mind wander for a second and totally lose count. Then I try to figure out where I am at while still swimming and forget to count what I am doing as well.
I just got one of those Finis Swimsense watches to try and get some more information on my swim workouts (as I need a lot of help at the swim).
It keeps track of each lap, lap time, rest time, stroke style, strokes per lap, distance per stroke, and swolf score.
It has the ability to upload to Training Peaks as well.
It seems to be very accurate so far.

CharlieH

@Scott

Yes you can - change the mode to 'other' then go to >settings>other settings>data fields. Select 2 fields. The edit the first one to LAPS and the second one to TIME - LAP.

You now have a) a lap counter and b) a lap timer. So you can do laps, 100's and keep count of how many 100's you've done and you're splits etc. If you want over all workout time, just turn on 'other 2' and set that as TIME - ELAPSED and scroll between the 2 screens. If you want to wear your HR monitor, I believe according to DCRainmaker, you need to keep the 310XT out of water i.e. in swim hat for best results; so pressing the lap button could be hard. Hope that helps?

 

I just try and remember in 100's then larger chunks e.g. 100 - 500, wu becomes 500. Then count 100s e.g. 1 - 6 then make that 1100 etc. Although because my pool in 33.3 I often have to try and figure out which end I finish at and then get confused when I lose count. Nightmare.

Al Truscott

Posted By David Lesh on 23 Feb 2011 11:24 PM

...I just got one of those Finis Swimsense watches to try and get some more information on my swim workouts ...It keeps track of each lap, lap time, rest time, stroke style, strokes per lap, distance per stroke, and swolf score.

It has the ability to upload to Training Peaks as well...

@ David - I watched the product video on their web site, and couldn't tell how big this thing really is - How high does it sit off the wrist, how heavy is it, is it more noticeable than, say a Timex Ironman watch while swimming? And, does it upload to WKO as well as Training Peaks web site?

How does it compare to, say a Garmin 305 in size (see photo below of 305 and Timex IM on my wrist.)

Matt Samojeden

Al see below.  Have had it for 3 weeks am pleased. My other watch is a Polar 800CX a little biger than your timex.

Swoodowrth

I combine counting up with counting down. Example, for a 400 in a 50 meter/yd pool. I start with 1/7, 1/7, then on the next lap, I chant 2/6, 2/6. This serves two purposes. When swimming the long distance, I'm so incredible excited when the numbers go upside down and I'm at 16/15, 16/15....makes me smile!!

Nate Parady

thanks for the great discussion everyone.

Coach Rich

My method is similar to Sheryl's, I started doing it this way when I was about 11yo. I was a distance swimmer = basically the go-to-guy for keeping count on long sets, etc:

When my right arm enters the water, I say "1" in my head.

Left arm, I say "7, etc" the lap that I'm on.

If I'm doing a long swim, over 1k, I'll count thru a 500 and "reset" the count in my head, so that I'm only actively counting to 20 (500yd) and maintaining a second count of the # of 500's I've done. God help me if I can't keep track of how many 500's I've done...but I can back this up by using the clock below.

In addition, I use the pace clock to help me keep count, assuming it's an analog pace clock on the side of the pool. Hopefully on my left side as I push off the wall, as that's the side I breath to. I take a quick look to get my split and I use this to back up my counting: I can tell when I'm flipping at a hundred split or a 50 split, depending on the time on the clock. I use this to back up the counting in my head.

That's for counting laps within an interval. To count the number of repeats, I always use the clock. Understand that I grew up swimming a world of analog swim clocks with a big hand, red on one side and back on the other. So things like "leave on the red 15/back top/red bottom" mean something to me .

First, always choose an actual send off: 5 x 100 on the 1:20, for example, vs the "take 15" rest after each 100" that we give you here.

This is how we use the clock to count:

• If I'm doing 12 x 100's on the 1:35, I know that after that after every repeat I advance the clock by :05
• If I lose count, I just do some math to see where I'm at: Again, I'm doing 100's on the 1:35 and I'm holding 1:20's consistently. I finish a hundred and see that I came on in on the :20 and I'm leaving on the :35. 35/5 = 7 = I've done 7 repeats.
• Within each hundred I'm also checking the clock after my flipturn at the 50, to get my split.

I know I've probably just confused everyone . Sorry, but after 16yrs+ of walltag, this stuff just becomes automatic.

 

David R

I can't keep track past 2 or 3 laps.  I use a ring counter, works great, it has a large button on the side I hit with my thumb as I aproach the wall.  It lets me focus on my form and I really need to focus on my form.

mgraffeo

Rich, I totally get the clock as count stuff ( it's not automatic for me, but I can do it) but I'm missing what you described about counting with left/right arm hitting the water. Would you mind explaining that one more time? Thanks!

delesh

@Al - I don't even notice the watch is on my wrist. It is pretty flat.



I love how it reverses colors when you are paused so you are never in doubt about whether you pushed the start button at the beginning of a set.

I was skeptical about how accurate it would be at knowing when I started a new lap, but it seems totally accurate so far.

You do have to press the pause button any time you rest and push start when you start swimming again.

I have a few laps where I was sharing a lane and had to wait between lengths where it gave me long times for those laps as it counted the rest.

I love having all of the data to look through.



I should say that the Training Peaks integration is not yet finished. I believe it will go live sometime pretty soon.

They said they have no plans at this point to support wko. I would love if they changed their minds about this and I think a lot of people are asking for it.



They are also going to have the ability to upload to beginnertriathlete.com, 2peak, and sport tracks.

You can also export the data in csv format.



So far I am pleased with it.

Nate Parady

Thanks Rich!!! I will start using the clock much more to keep track of my distance.
X2 what Mike said, Is the 1 the number of 500s you have done and the 7 your number counting up to 20?

Coach Rich

Posted By Nate Parady on 25 Feb 2011 06:54 AM

Thanks Rich!!! I will start using the clock much more to keep track of my distance.

X2 what Mike said, Is the 1 the number of 500s you have done and the 7 your number counting up to 20?

"1" is just a number I say in my head, doesn't mean anything. "7" is the lap I'm on. So as I come into the wall, I'm saying "1-7, 1-7" in my head. I flip, come off the wall saying "1-8, 1-8."

I never do repeats longer than about 400 or 500 so not an issue to count 500's. If I'm doing a 1000 (not very often), I'll count up to 40 if SCY, 20 if LCM. I use the clock to count the number of repeats.

The only time I'll swim looonnggg is for a race rehearsal. I always doing this in an LCM pool. I'll count up to 20 (1000m) but will hit a split button at the 500s, and/or will glance back at the clock. So I then keep track of how many 1000s I've done (I will NOT lose count of a 1k :-). FWIW, I sutract 2 seconds to get my split (IOW, if I see 1:27 on the clock as I push off the wall, I'll call it a 1:25 split, the 2 secs is the pushoff).

And if I have lost count, I can use the clock to get back on track, especially easy if swimming LCM. So I'm holding 1:30's, I know what to expect on the clock given where I think I'm vs what I actually see on the clock.

Sorry, distance swimmers can be pretty Rainman-ish when it comes to counting, calc'ing splits and other stuff on the fly . Like I said 16yrs+ of playing walltag and staring at a black line will do that to you.