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2013-03-17 12:51 PM

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Subject: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

I find that once I get up over 15-18 laps I start to day dream and tend to lose count of my laps. One of my buddies let me use a little watch that straps onto your finger.  It has a little button that you push to count each lap and keeps track of lap times and whatnot.  Kind of slick but I did end up double-tapping the button at one point so I came up one lap short. I knew this because it said my fastest lap time was 9 secs. 

Does anyone else use this type of device? What other options are there? If you don't use a device what mental games do you play to make sure you don't lose count at 30 laps?



2013-03-17 12:54 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
Timex 100 lap digital watch. I hit the lap button every 100y.
2013-03-17 12:57 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
Garmin Swim or the Garmin 910XT.
2013-03-17 12:57 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

You reach over with the other hand to hit the button? I thought about that but I'm a pretty poor swimmer so once I'm in the zone if I get distracted it's a chore to get back in the groove. 

Do you kick turn? Does this put your hands in a natural position to hit the button?

2013-03-17 1:00 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

Garmin Swim

Finis Laptrack

Garmin 310XT in mode "other" hitting lap button every lap

Then there are several other lap counters available.

Nevertheless the Garmin Swim is the best stand-alone option.

2013-03-17 1:13 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
aliddle9876 - 2013-03-17 12:57 PM

You reach over with the other hand to hit the button? I thought about that but I'm a pretty poor swimmer so once I'm in the zone if I get distracted it's a chore to get back in the groove. 

Do you kick turn? Does this put your hands in a natural position to hit the button?

Yes; I push the button in the middle of the flip turn while i'm upside down.  Might take a little bit to get used to, but it's not that bad.



2013-03-17 1:25 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
I go through the alphabet.  Like for the first 26 laps, I think of a city that starts with the next letter on each lap.  Then I start again at the top with a different category: animals, boys or girls names, whatever.... Then it's easy to calculate # of laps, as long as you remember where you stopped and how many times you looped through.  Hope that helps; this method is absolutely foolproof for me. 
2013-03-17 1:27 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
Garmin 910xt. Counts laps without any button touches. Also keeps pace, strokes, swolf (lap time + strokes), etc. I used to use a sports count (http://www.amazon.com/SportCount-Inc-LapCounter-90040-Silver/dp/B0016J9NE8) before I bought the Garmin. It was the best $30 invest I made. Very liberating to be able to think about anything other than lap counts - especially in your mid-fortys when you forget more than you remember.
2013-03-17 1:34 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
I move my shoes on the pool deck. I've used two methods. The first I separate the shoes by one tile for each lap/set/100/whatever. This works well when doing long sets. In the other method I turn my shoes to different positions (like a clock) with each set.
2013-03-17 1:41 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
Count by 10's-much easier to remember. I.e. 30 laps=3 sets if 10.

If you loose count, start at where you last remember, even if you know you've done more. A few "I lost count" punishment laps and your memory starts to get real strong!
2013-03-17 1:43 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

I use the Garmin 910xt.   i needed a new watch and this one was a bit more expensive, but IMO so worth it that I can just think about my swim and ignore counting laps.  

Can't recommend it enough.



2013-03-17 2:10 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

I second the smaller counts - I always break my swim into quarters. If I'm doing 40 laps I'll count to 10 4 times instead of counting to 40 one time. At the start of each lap, I hold up the lap number on each hand: 1 finger for first and sixth lap, 2 fingers for second and seventh, etc. - therefore twice. Making a gesture like this helps cement it in...

Plus, I have a rule - if I ever lose count or am not quite sure what lap I'm on, I always go with the lower number.

2013-03-17 2:18 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

I generally count in sequential order by ones. 

Seriously though, my routines are typically chopped into intervals, so I am never trying to keep track of anything over 40 laps(1000 yds).  I have the routine on a piece of paper in a ziplock, stuck to the ledge of the pool.  I just repeat the lap to myself as I am swimming - if multiples (like 10x100) I will repeat lap and rep (i.e. 1 of 1, 2 of 1, etc.).  If I do the occasional long continuous swim (2-3000 yds), I will restart count every 1000 yds.  Just takes some getting used to I think.  If I had a lap counter, I think I would find it distracting - but probably would just need to get used to that also.  Just find a method and use it over and over - it'll just become habit.

2013-03-17 2:19 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
In a 25yd/m pool i count by 50's, so I'm counting laps not links. when you hit 1000 start over. this works for distance not so much for number of laps.
2013-03-17 2:21 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

I have a 910xt so that counts my distance reliably, but there is a short pool that I sometimes have to swim in during my lunchbreak that won't work with my garmin. 

When I have to count, I usually do a 1-2 type count where I'm counting strokes and the lap that I'm on.  

For example-lap 14:

Left arm stroke (14)

Right arm stroke (1)

Left arm stroke (14)

Right arm stroke (2)

and so on.

The process becomes pretty automatic and helps me stay aware of tempo and efficiency.

2013-03-17 2:39 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?


2013-03-17 2:53 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

Every pool has a clock with a large second hand. Learn where it is, it is your friend!

1. Make a program and do intervals, instead of 1000 I do 10x100 etc. I seldomly do more than intervals of 200. This splits your workout into chunks that you can count and also helps staying focused.

2. Keep fixed time per interval+rest - not fixed rest - and don't leave on the minute, because it will always be the same. Leaving on the half isn't good either when you have long sets. So, Instead of leaving on say, 2:00, you can do 2:05, that means that the second-hand will be on 00, 05, 10, 15 etc. last one of 10 leaving on 45 - or if you're faster try 1:55, then it goes the other way: 00, 55, 50 ... set your interval time so you have about 10-15sec rest, not more.

3. Keep track of your time and know your splits. You will learn your splits doing shorter intervals, then use that as reference on longer intervals. So in my case, I know that I do 200 in about 2:50, that means the first 50 in 0:42, 100 in 1:25, 150 in 2:07 and 200 in 2:50. In the turn I just need to glance briefly at the clock if I'm in doubt, if I left at :10, and the clock shows :20 then I know I've done 150 - well, because I know my split is :07 and add 3 seconds for push off and the first stroke - close enough, it can't possibly be any of the other options.

You don't need to invest in expensive high tech wrist wearables. I admit I have the 910xt too and it's a useful tool, but just as often I find it difficult to read in a brief glance and I have to twist my hand in a very non-streamlined fashion to do so. I mainly use it as a data logger.

BR, Erik



Edited by erik.norgaard 2013-03-17 2:58 PM
2013-03-17 3:25 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
I hit lt the lap button every 500 m. If for some reason i can't recall what lap I'm on out of 10, i just look at my watch...i know roughly how fast I swim.
2013-03-17 3:47 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
Cheap C9 watch I got from target for about $12. Holds up to 300 laps if needed.
2013-03-17 4:50 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

efria - 2013-03-17 11:41 AM Count by 10's-much easier to remember. I.e. 30 laps=3 sets if 10.

If you loose count, start at where you last remember, even if you know you've done more. A few "I lost count" punishment laps and your memory starts to get real strong!

This is EXACTLY what I do.  It works just fine.  No daydreaming which causes sloppiness.

2013-03-17 5:01 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
Structured sets, pace clock.


2013-03-17 5:03 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
erik.norgaard - 2013-03-17 2:53 PM

Every pool has a clock with a large second hand. Learn where it is, it is your friend!

1. Make a program and do intervals, instead of 1000 I do 10x100 etc. I seldomly do more than intervals of 200. This splits your workout into chunks that you can count and also helps staying focused.

2. Keep fixed time per interval+rest - not fixed rest - and don't leave on the minute, because it will always be the same. Leaving on the half isn't good either when you have long sets. So, Instead of leaving on say, 2:00, you can do 2:05, that means that the second-hand will be on 00, 05, 10, 15 etc. last one of 10 leaving on 45 - or if you're faster try 1:55, then it goes the other way: 00, 55, 50 ... set your interval time so you have about 10-15sec rest, not more.

3. Keep track of your time and know your splits. You will learn your splits doing shorter intervals, then use that as reference on longer intervals. So in my case, I know that I do 200 in about 2:50, that means the first 50 in 0:42, 100 in 1:25, 150 in 2:07 and 200 in 2:50. In the turn I just need to glance briefly at the clock if I'm in doubt, if I left at :10, and the clock shows :20 then I know I've done 150 - well, because I know my split is :07 and add 3 seconds for push off and the first stroke - close enough, it can't possibly be any of the other options.

You don't need to invest in expensive high tech wrist wearables. I admit I have the 910xt too and it's a useful tool, but just as often I find it difficult to read in a brief glance and I have to twist my hand in a very non-streamlined fashion to do so. I mainly use it as a data logger.

BR, Erik

+1 billion
2013-03-17 5:04 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

simpsonbo - 2013-03-17 7:01 PM Structured sets, pace clock.

'zactly

2013-03-17 5:08 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?
axteraa - 2013-03-17 7:04 PM

simpsonbo - 2013-03-17 7:01 PM Structured sets, pace clock.

'zactly



Agreed; cheap and effective.

Shane
2013-03-17 5:08 PM
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Subject: RE: How do you keep track of laps in the pool?

I have a 910 now but before I got that I used a Timex Ironman watch and would hit the lap button every 5 laps.  It would give me a split time and I knew how fast or slow I was going.  If I did four "splits" that was a 1,000 yards.  It was easy for me to count to 5.  I got so used to it that even if I lost track of where i was at (bearing in mind that I only had to count to five and I still lost count) I could look at my time as I was flipping and know about where I was.

Easy enough for me and that watch is still my favorite.  I had it in college running track and it still goes strong.  Fully water proof and cost me less than $40.  Oh and it's still a stop watch that works just fine when running.

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