Do you swim with a watch? (Page 2)

I used to until one time my watch battery died and I was forced to use the wall clock. Every since I take my watch off, start it when I jump in the pool and leave it next to the lane and stop it when I get out to record total time. I use the wall clock for my intervals and rest sets. I used to be super picky as to how long each set was to the dot but now as long as I am hitting the pace I want on the ball park I am ok with it. Swimming without worrying about lap time everytime has helped develop a better pacing feel which translates into OWS, in other words I swim by feel and check my pace every now and then by picking at the wall watch, that way I know how it feels to swim at 'x' pace and I can hold that pace better when OWS.

But IMO swimmers should work using both: pace and RPE for a given distance

I don't train with anyone so it is always me and the clock. I use a Sportcount finger watch which I really like. I set time goals for my intervals and try to hit them or really push and come in just under. I still focus primary on form and my feel in the water which usually translates to faster times.

I 'll use the deck clock (or whatever that big timing clock is called) or the larger wall clock depending on where I swim. I usually don't swim with a watch. If I do it's to keep track of laps on a longer set workout like 500 or 700 's

I wear my watch when I swim -- I lose count of laps a lot (don't know why, considering that there is absolutely nothing to distract me in a featureless expanse of pool water) and if I didn't have my watch, I would have absolutely no idea what distance I swam that day.

I use the clock on the wall and keep track of my splits during the main set or two in my head and then log them on BT when I am done.

My pool has one of those giant "stopwatches" so I use that to track my time.

Although lately I haven't been noticing my total time since I'd need to remember the random minute that it's on.

I typically only record total time in the pool too, so I need to pay more attention, but I definitely notice the lap/set times. 

Never swim with a watch.

The clock at the pool with the red and black 30 sec apart is the times I go by at the pool. At races, I just get my splits. In OWS practices, don't really care about times.

Always with a watch. I use the pace clock for my Rest Intervals or my send offs. The watch times the whole thing.

If necessary, and I have a timed set involved. I'll make a seperate lap for it, that way I can recall it later.

Time is critical in the pool just as it is on the bike or run!

I use the wall clock.

But if it's broken, I usualy just count out the rest I have planned for the intervals. I really don't wear my watch too much.

I have a finger lap counter that also gives me my time.

There's an easier way to figure out for longer sets. Let's say you average 1:45/100 at your longer set pace. So if you do a 500 and start on the 60, then you should come in around the 45 for a total of 7:45. If you come in earlier or later you should be able to tell if you are going significantly faster or slower, i.e. if you come in on the 30 you should either feel a bit faster (7:30) or a lot slower (8:30).

Use the pool deck clock for sets

Use the watch for odd intervals (i.e., 75s) where I can't see the clock

Use the watch to check my intervals within the set

Use a watch OW 

Place a pile oof M&Ms on deck equivalent to the number of laps you are going to swim.   Complete a lap, eat an M&M.  Yummy! 

Yes...and I finally invested in a good one (Timex IM 50 lap).  On endurance sessions, I hit lap every 100.  For intervals, I hit lap each 100 (for, say, sets of 400s) and lap, then stop, at the end of the distance (so I get a total for the session and 100 splits throughout).  I've taken to timing rests by breaths for convenience sake, but otherwise I'd look at the pool deck clock.

Yes, I use my watch with a timer I can start and stop.  I want to log my actual swim time not the water breaks or chats with other swimmers.  If I went by the clock at the pool it would look like I swam a LOT more than I actually did.

Yes. Watch. I start/stop at long rest periods. I usually let it run if RI<:15. I almost always swim over my scheduled training minutes so I don't worry too much if interval rest time = 1-2 minutes.
Deck clock for intervals.

dalessit - 2009-06-17 11:10 AM Swim with a watch, hit the lap button after every 50, otherwise there is no way I would know how long I had been swimming.  LOL tried to hit it every 100 but when my mind wanders while swimming I would forget if I was finishing the 50 or the 100...

LOL. I thought that I was hte only one who would lose track!

Edited by epapates 2009-06-17 9:46 PM

All the time. I lose my lap count and i just figure it out according to my pace.

always have i cant even remember the last time i took mine off

I can easily lose track... "Did I just do 150 or 200?".

I call out under water what I'm on after each 50... oddly this sticks in my head. So after my flip turn I say, "50- 100 - 150... "

Lately I've been doing 6x500, 8x500 or 10x500- and after each 500 I move a penny from one stack, to another.

Shoot, in HS when I swam competitively, I would always get confused during my 200. I wouldn't know if I was going on to do 150 or finishing the race. I would look around to see if the others were sprinting, if not... then I had another 50 left. HA! (Note: since I never won first place, this worked.) Thank goodness they allowed us counters for the 500!