I swam a 1650 at a pool that had a clock on the wall at the starting end of the pool. It was connected to the timing system and was displaying the running time of my event. I could see it every time my first breath off the walls. It DEFINITELY helped me, since I could tell how fast I was going and, as I got closer to the end, that if I went faster, I'd be under 19:00.
I'm not nearly as fast as you, but I will second the notion that a wall clock helps. I used it during my 10k postal swim last year to good effect (I think). The pool I swam in had clocks in all four corners. I could easily see a clock on my first breath after every 50. I could tell a lot about my pace (under, at, or over my desired pace).
I think if a swimmer is determined and there is a running clock visible somewhere they will find a way to use it. A friend of mine swam the 200 SCY fly at the Illinois state meet a couple years ago. I could tell watching that her first breath after each 50 was a bit different. She was taking a peek at the running time clock even though it was high on the far wall.
Skip Montanaro
I swam a 1650 at a pool that had a clock on the wall at the starting end of the pool. It was connected to the timing system and was displaying the running time of my event. I could see it every time my first breath off the walls. It DEFINITELY helped me, since I could tell how fast I was going and, as I got closer to the end, that if I went faster, I'd be under 19:00.
I'm not nearly as fast as you, but I will second the notion that a wall clock helps. I used it during my 10k postal swim last year to good effect (I think). The pool I swam in had clocks in all four corners. I could easily see a clock on my first breath after every 50. I could tell a lot about my pace (under, at, or over my desired pace).
I think if a swimmer is determined and there is a running clock visible somewhere they will find a way to use it. A friend of mine swam the 200 SCY fly at the Illinois state meet a couple years ago. I could tell watching that her first breath after each 50 was a bit different. She was taking a peek at the running time clock even though it was high on the far wall.
Skip Montanaro
