Another newbie question: how do you keep count of how many strokes/lengths/laps?

The best way is to use the pace clock. Just glance at it on your first breath coming out of a turn. If you know your pace you should be able to figure out where you're at. For example, if you hold about 1:30 per 100, and the pace clock tells you you're at 3:00, it's pretty easy to realize you've gone 200 yards.

Keep count with a waterproof watch. I have a Ironman watch with an easy to hit button on the top. I only hit it for every 100yds. It is easy to count up to 4 without forgetting. this is why I like interval training. You don't loose count on shorter distances like 200's.

I really think it's something you just develop a feel for as you swim, a 100 feels different than a 200 than a 300 etc. On long swims, I actually say the lap out loud underwater as I do my push off - I think that burns it in my brain as to where I am.

The best way is to use the pace clock. Just glance at it on your first breath coming out of a turn. If you know your pace you should be able to figure out where you're at. For example, if you hold about 1:30 per 100, and the pace clock tells you you're at 3:00, it's pretty easy to realize you've gone 200 yards. I can't see the clock while swimming (it's at the end of the pool) but I know about how much time should elapse for any given distance. When I'm doing longer swims of 400 or more I will do an open turn occassionally to check, if I lose track of lap count. Sometimes I'll lose track on a 200! Must be something related to age?

I believe the rule of thumb is thus: when choosing between two distances, you have always gone the shorter distance.

I believe the rule of thumb is thus: when choosing between two distances, you have always gone the shorter distance. Great rule. However, I violated it yesterday. We were doing "Texas 25s" with the extra flip turn. The two fast lanes ended up doing 12 instead of 10. It was at the end of workout. We were all zonked. Everyone kept asking which one we were on. No one seemed to know. We just kept going. Our coach was swimming with us so .... I never count strokes. If I'm sprinting, I go fast. If I'm swimming longer, I slow down. I know many people count in an effort to improve their SPL. It's probably a good idea, but I'd rather worry about other things. As to counting laps, I do what Geek does only I don't say it out loud. I just think 50, 100, 150 or 2, 4, 6. I still lose count a lot in anything over a 200. Maybe it's age or life intruding on swimming. :eek: Or it proves the GoodSmith theory that sprinters have only an 11 second attention span.

I never count my strokes unless I have to because that's way to many numbers before 6 am. I'm notorious for miss counting so I chant 1.1.1.1.1.1...turn...2.2.2.2.2.2.2 when I'm swimming for lengths...if I count laps I lose track. You could always buy one of those rings that you click everytime you turn and let that keep track for you. Or you can follow someone who is a good counter and stop when they do. ;)

Babs. Not sue how far you're swimming but I used to just pound out a mile of ***--72 lengths according to my pool. I found it easier to divide into 1/4 miles (18 lengths) and do it that way. If I lost count I'd do and extra lap. Or go with the lower number if I was lost e.g. was that 14 or 16...I'd go with 14. That helps you learn to not lose count too if you do extra lengths. Pain is a good teacher. I just rember hitting 40 lengths was a big psychological thing knowing you had less in front of you than behind you.

Babs, I kind of chant as well as, count on my fingers!:cool: On my left hand I separate index finger from the rest for my first lap, when I begin my second lap, I join my middle finger to the index, then ring to the other two, then baby to all three. Then I start over. I know when I have finished the hand there went 200 meters. I can keep track of the two hundreds Ok, and if in doubt I can check the time it has taken. I don't count lengths, and counting strokes (when I do count strokes) is simply a count for a length (while my fingers are walking through the lap number). I don't know if any of this will make sense to anyone else, but it works for me. (Off topic -- Rich -- in addition to changing your username, how do you change those witty names under your avatar?)

if any of this will make sense to anyone else, but it works for me. (Off topic -- Rich -- in addition to changing your username, how do you change those witty names under your avatar?) I hate to post off topic but for you... It's under profile...you need to go to Fortress' Trolling 101 Seminar. She taught me everything I know! :p