I suppose this is an inexperienced swimmer problem, but I have a terrible time trying to keep track of my distance in longer sets. Pretty much anything over 300 and I start to lose track ("oh rats, does this lap make 400 or 450?"). I'm not normally the flighty forgetful type, really, but I get in the water and I seem to lose all short-term memory. :o I thought about getting one of those lap counter thingies but it seems like it would be a hassle to have to punch a button on every turn. Is there a trick to keeping track of these things? I love swimming longer distances, but it's disorienting to be in the middle of a warmup or set and suddenly realize I have no idea how far along I am.
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Former Member
I rely on the clock to keep my count correct.
Know your pace. For example, if you are doing 50 seconds per 50 yards, then if you lose count, just see where the second hand is after you get to the end of the current 50. If the second hand is near the 4 on the clock (assuming you started at the top of the minute) then you did 4 50s (or 10 or 16, etc.) In this example it takes you 6x50s for the second hand to get back to the top after you complete a 50.
If you do your 50s in 40 seconds, then it takes 3 50s for the second hand to get back to the top. The second hand will hit a distinct pattern, hitting the 8 on the first 50, the 4 on the next, and then back to the top.
Of course, if you do it in some odd number like 47 seconds or 66 seconds, it's not as easy, but if you keep checking the clock after each 50, you can still know whether you did 2 or 4 lengths since the last time you checked.
I rely on the clock to keep my count correct.
Know your pace. For example, if you are doing 50 seconds per 50 yards, then if you lose count, just see where the second hand is after you get to the end of the current 50. If the second hand is near the 4 on the clock (assuming you started at the top of the minute) then you did 4 50s (or 10 or 16, etc.) In this example it takes you 6x50s for the second hand to get back to the top after you complete a 50.
If you do your 50s in 40 seconds, then it takes 3 50s for the second hand to get back to the top. The second hand will hit a distinct pattern, hitting the 8 on the first 50, the 4 on the next, and then back to the top.
Of course, if you do it in some odd number like 47 seconds or 66 seconds, it's not as easy, but if you keep checking the clock after each 50, you can still know whether you did 2 or 4 lengths since the last time you checked.
