Took me a while but I leafned how to use the pace clock to keep track. I was using my watch at master's and am now annoyed by triathletes who do the same. Throws off the lane.
Another simple way for keeping track of long intervals (e.g., your 1000 TT) is that you know more or less how fast you go, so a quick look at your watch tells you where you are.
For example, I'm not so fast a swimmer, so I know that I won't be too far away from 4 minutes for every 250 of a 1000. So whatever lap it is that I'm coming back that's going to end anywhere near 4 min has to be the 250. (I can't be a full minute+ too fast or slow!). Same thing for 300 - neighborhood of 5 minutes. or 400 - neighborhood of 6.5 minutes. I don't mind hitting a lap button on my watch on push off every 4-5 minutes.
I use a SportCount and love it. I used to lose track of what lap I am on after about the 5th one. Now, I don't worry about it at all. I also tried using elapsed time and math -- it takes me 1:00 to do 50, therefore 4:00 should be 8, no wait...that would be 4 laps...which is 200m.....but that just got too hard.
Now I click the button to start, touch it with my thumb when I complete a lap, and look at if I lose track of where I am.
I wish the pace clock was on the side at my pool! Nope it at one end where it is so hard to see if you want to do a solid flip turn and stay streamlined out of the wall.
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 do the exact same thing (every 200 yd, not 50 or 100), and also screw it up from time to time but can detect the miscount as above.
Btw I use a Garmin FR60 to do this, then wrote a macro to allow the distances to be entered for each lap, so it can be uploaded to Garmin Connect, and Training Peaks. If anyone wants it send me a PM.
I just starting using a Finis Swimsense as well and really like it (though I don't like what it's telling me about my pace). Just to be clear, as far as I know, while it may be able to upload to Training Peaks, it can't yet upload to WKO+, although that's on their roadmap.
I get lost counting over 2. I broke down and bought a Swimovate Poolmate, it works great. But I still use the alphabet as Penny & Beth describe during the swim (especially for the 1000 TT). Very often I pick a person in my life for each letter and dedicate the lap to that person. Thankfully 1000 ends at "T" so I don't need to worry about coming up with names for the more challenging letters!
Daniela- your method made me laugh. I didn't think very many people knew the 50 nifty song!
It is so funny to just scan down this page and see an arm with 3 watches on it, without reading what the conversation is...it looks VERY TRI-GEEKish! I wouldn't be surprised to see some tri-newbie show up in T1 of a local tri decked out in 3 watches like this...but it would be so funny!
I've been using my new Swimovate for a few workouts and I have to say, I like it! It does the job, now that I've figured out how to review the workout. If I were to do it again, I would buy the one with the PC-uplink.
I second @Sue's suggestion on the SportCount. Its small, inexpensive and easy to use with just one hand. I wear it on my finger and use my thumb to count.
I don't swim right now, therefore, no counting problem, Coach RnP said not to worry about it in the OS, when I do swim, I have to break everything down into 100s, usually loose count and so I just quit when I run out of time. Rarely do I swim more than a 500 at once, so I only have to count to 5 by breaking it down into 100s. Even my 3000-4000 swims are all broken down into shorter faster intervals.
I recommend the Swimovate watch for those that can't keep track, like me. It even has a stroke count that makes it easy to play "golf", as well "Swim Efficiency" function
Comments
Took me a while but I leafned how to use the pace clock to keep track. I was using my watch at master's and am now annoyed by triathletes who do the same. Throws off the lane.
For example, I'm not so fast a swimmer, so I know that I won't be too far away from 4 minutes for every 250 of a 1000. So whatever lap it is that I'm coming back that's going to end anywhere near 4 min has to be the 250. (I can't be a full minute+ too fast or slow!). Same thing for 300 - neighborhood of 5 minutes. or 400 - neighborhood of 6.5 minutes. I don't mind hitting a lap button on my watch on push off every 4-5 minutes.
I use a SportCount and love it. I used to lose track of what lap I am on after about the 5th one. Now, I don't worry about it at all. I also tried using elapsed time and math -- it takes me 1:00 to do 50, therefore 4:00 should be 8, no wait...that would be 4 laps...which is 200m.....but that just got too hard.
Now I click the button to start, touch it with my thumb when I complete a lap, and look at if I lose track of where I am.
Easy, shmeezy.
I do the exact same thing (every 200 yd, not 50 or 100), and also screw it up from time to time but can detect the miscount as above.
Btw I use a Garmin FR60 to do this, then wrote a macro to allow the distances to be entered for each lap, so it can be uploaded to Garmin Connect, and Training Peaks. If anyone wants it send me a PM.
Cheers, Matt
Just to be clear, as far as I know, while it may be able to upload to Training Peaks, it can't yet upload to WKO+, although that's on their roadmap.
Daniela- your method made me laugh. I didn't think very many people knew the 50 nifty song!
I second @Sue's suggestion on the SportCount. Its small, inexpensive and easy to use with just one hand. I wear it on my finger and use my thumb to count.
I don't swim right now, therefore, no counting problem, Coach RnP said not to worry about it in the OS, when I do swim, I have to break everything down into 100s, usually loose count and so I just quit when I run out of time. Rarely do I swim more than a 500 at once, so I only have to count to 5 by breaking it down into 100s. Even my 3000-4000 swims are all broken down into shorter faster intervals.
http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/18030.htm?color=9325