SW 10.15 No pace-making shall be permitted, nor may any device be used or plan adopted which has that effect.
The topic of having someone give you feedback on your pacing during a race came up in the 1500 Test Set thread. My impression is that pace-making is very common and the rule against it largely unenforceable, but that the rule is there and quite clear. Swimmers may not use devices which help them pace their race and they may not adopt a plan that allows someone on deck or in another lane to help them pace their race.
In the other thread an interpretation was posted, my interpretation of the interpretation was that it dealt specifically with using devices, but that it didn't say pace-making was ok if it didn't involve a device (watch or radio).
Outside of using a device, has anyone ever been DQed for pace-making? If having someone else give you pacing feedback is ok, what is wrong with using a device? Should the whole rule be thrown out?
I am not in any way intending to criticize anyone who has had pacing help, I would love it if it turned out that this was legal, I mean who really wants to swim 60 lengths at what one thought was goal pace only to find out that one has swum a stinky time?
While there are a few stupid rules in swimming(like whose idea was it to put breastroke in the IM:rofl: :dedhorse: ) the no watch rule is the dumbest.People were DQd at Worlds for watches.Sheesh!!
I corrected this for you.
Former Member
Try swimming with a Tempo Trainer. Imprint the cadence and SPL that you want to start your 1500 with. Then warm up for the big event with the TT set to pace. You should be able to recall that tempo for your start, if the adrenaline doesn't get you going faster.
And quite frankly, no device is going to help me very much in going faster or staying on pace if I am off pace to start with (training problem).
But if one can train accordingly, you will "feel" the pace and need no devices.
I agree. I've had coaches jumping up and down to tell me I'm off pace and it never does a lick of good. When you're off pace you know you're off pace and there typically isn't a damn thing you can do about it. Conversely, if you're having a great swim you should probably just go with it rather than try to slow down because you're ahead of your goal pace.
Former Member
I agree. I've had coaches jumping up and down to tell me I'm off pace and it never does a lick of good. When you're off pace you know you're off pace and there typically isn't a damn thing you can do about it.
I suspect that this is a matter of experience. I know that I can easily fall off pace without noticing it, and have witnessed many other people go out faster than they planned and then crash and burn.
Btw, I checked with someone at FINA and the USMS rule is in conflict with the FINA rule and would not apply here in Canada where we follow FINA rules. :(
Former Member
I suspect that this is a matter of experience. I know that I can easily fall off pace without noticing it, and have witnessed many other people go out faster than they planned and then crash and burn.
Lindsay...I'd say trying to practice with a cadence in your head is a good thing to try. I've done this when running in my wild and reckless youth.
Former Member
Lindsay...I'd say trying to practice with a cadence in your head is a good thing to try. I've done this when running in my wild and reckless youth.
I am working on this, it is just that my internal clock is not that accurate, in a 1500 being off by just 1% is 10-15s. That said, I am amazed at how I will often swim the sprint events repeatedly within 0.1s! I have several 34.8Xs 50m fly swims.
Former Member
I am working on this, it is just that my internal clock is not that accurate, in a 1500 being off by just 1% is 10-15s. That said, I am amazed at how I will often swim the sprint events repeatedly within 0.1s! I have several 34.8Xs 50m fly swims.
If you're musically able in any way, singing, dance or instruments...you should be able to get it.
Or create a mantra or quote you like something that will last about one length. Then go to a metronome online (if you don't have one) and set the beat so that you can say the rhyme in time and within the goal time you want to swim per length.
This is really me thinking out loud; not meant to be funny per-se, but I think you can make it work. Remember maths and music are really the same thing in certain light.
I think there are wrist mounted GPS devices that might help one swim a straighter line. But in long distance OW races there are often guide boats/kayaks for that purpose anyway.
Donna, I agree that if one is dead set on drag reduction (both in costume and technique) then it stands to reason that the watch must go. Having said that, I have swum some OW races that complete several laps around a course, it is useful to know splits. It would be even more useful to have an "eye in the sky" with video to goggle link! ahhhh...dare to dream!
There's no restriction on watches in long distance events. Marcia Cleveland can confirm this for you or you can look through the ld committee meeting minutes.
Former Member
Last night I realized there was an easy and seemingly legal way (under USMS rules) to use a (beeping) watch for pacing in the longer races with counters, and it might actually work better than wearing the watch, which is to put the watch on the wrist of your counter or attach it to the handle of the counter boards. That way the counter can start the watch at the start signal, which is tough to do for the swimmer. Of course, this only illustrates the arbitrary nature of not allowing the swimmer to use a device but allowing the counter to do so and signal the swimmer.
