Teach me some mind games...

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:51:40 GMT

Thanks Morgan! It sounds like what I need.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:42:35 GMT

www.finisinc.com/products-tr-laptrack.shtml follow that link to their site. Some people on here--maybe on the general discussion boards have voiced their displeasure with the device, but I think it really depends on how many laps you do daily, and what kind of facility you swim at. On the surface it seems like a very cool device, but the fact that it only hold 50laps is just not rational for me.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:28:03 GMT

Morgan What is a "finis lap counter"?

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:33:09 GMT

The knitting one is plastic but you have to turn it and i can't read it without my glasses so i gave it up. The click counter isn't waterproof, it's metal with numbers inside that move when you click it, but i can't see where some spray would hurt it. you would have to remember to click it. we use it in our IV pharmacy to count numbers of bags of things dispensed. a very old fashioned but sturdy way.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:18:36 GMT

with that kinda lap counter Mary, do you keep it on the deck, and have to hit it at the end of every 50 or whatever to track the yards? or is it waterproof? I am looking into one of the ring counters. I had originally wanted the finis lap counter, but I swim way more than 50laps in one continuous swim, so it would have been a poor investment for me.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 05:14:58 GMT

lap counter, well, they make stitch counters for knitters, and click counters both of which have been used for laps. i guess i'd like the click counter better, digits are easier to read. i don't use one as i generally know within 50 of where i am so check out either the knitting or office supply stores! mary d

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:14:54 GMT

I lose track of how many laps I`ve done due to going into the "zone". I`m thinking of getting some sort of lap counter. Does someone make such a thing?

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 07:49:01 GMT

Yes this is a good thread. As we hear, distance training is about 80% mental?? I thought you all might appreciate this that I found in the book Haunts of the Black Masseur by Charles Sprawson: "The swimmer's solitary training, the long hours spent semi-submerged, induce a lonely, meditative state of mind. Much of a swimmer's training takes place inside of his head, immersed as he is in a continuous dream of a world under water. So intense and concentrated are his conditions that he becomes prey to delusions and neuroses beyond the experience of other athletes." Neurotic and delusional - yep, that can happen!

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:36:02 GMT

hey everyone, it's awesome to see how many responses this thread is still getting. I got an mp3 player for my birthday, gonna try it out this week. I have a hard time thinking of nothing. I am a writer and ADD so I just have a constant rush of thoughts in my head. Unless I'm doing interval sets I have a REALLY hard time just thinking about swimming or thinking about nothing.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Killer — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:12:46 GMT

I like to turn off my mind for awhile, it is comforting to all of a sudden realize you were swimming for an hour or more. I have to constantly talk and interact socially for work, so the anti-social side of me comes out underwater. I had an MP3 player, but the ear plugs kept coming out. But that open water rythm of stroke, the glide and serenity makes me wish I would have started it along time ago. So dont think of anything, try it.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:42:22 GMT

I agree with Paul. As he knows, I work through issues in the pool, sometimes as i swim it's like my day or whatever is a reel of still photos. as i swim they move until eventually they move away and it's all about how you're moving in the water. if in the pool, i may focus on one thing every 50 yards, or 100. since i come from the TI school i'll focus on slipping my hand in the water, rotating to see how weightless my recovery is. before you know it, it's zen and there is no thought but the movement of the swim! :)

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:33:25 GMT

I agree with the zen thing. With the sensual deparvation, it's really easy to focus on very small things and just enjoy that. I often work through things one at a time. So you can do many, many yards/meters just looking or feeling how your right arm enters the water... then the left arm, then how few bubbles you can make, the shape of your pull, your roll, your wake, your body position, that thing that's moving like a snake next to you, :) the position of your head, where you really would have told your boss to go yesterday, how the water feels today.....hmmmmmmmm

RE: Teach me some mind games...

FlyQueen — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:37:39 GMT

1-2-3-breathe 1-2-breathe 1-2-3-breathe what the f was i thinking signing up for this breathe ... :dedhorse: I thought this during every (all 3) 400IMs I've ever done, both 200 flys, and now even 200 frees ... So you are all nuts and amazing. The ONE time I swam a mile I just zoned, sang, thought about the rest of my events, what I wanted for dinner, solved some of the worlds problems, etc. When I ran a lot I thought of all sorts of things, I did choreography in my head (I did gymnastics for a long time and would choreograph beam & floor routines), basically anything other than swimming ... during my MRI last year I tried to go through every season of Friends and think of the first and last episode of the season, I'd think about what I wanted to but at the grocery store, Nordstrom, Target ... Just relax and let your mind wander ... don't think about anything ... Oh, and Morgan, sprinting is better! :agree:

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:22:56 GMT

Well, FINALLY! I know I have posted about questions as to how to quiet my mind during long swims (up until this weekend, my long swims were only about 2 miles), but now I at the 4-mile mark or in that vicinity; working my way up to 18 miles. I have always have an overactive brain and suffer from boredom or too much thinking along the way. I think my brain is learning to finally quiet down on its own. During my 3+ mile swim yesterday, I realized that I had NO thoughts whatsoever after the 2 mile mark. I had been waiting for something like this because if I don't think, I automatically swim BETTER; it's like being on cruise control. We all approach great distances so differently and I am relieved that I know that I can finally swim on automatic and let my brain rest because at some point, I will need it to kick in and help me when situations arise for miles after the 5 or 10 mile mark; at least something will be rested!!! donna

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:41:07 GMT

I agree! I just got my SwimP3 player for Valentine's Day from my husband. Now I listen to music as I swim, and I don't want to get out of the pool. Last night I swam for over an hour hardly stopping and could have kept going. One more song... one more song.... I've been swimming for almost 20 years in the same old pool, and I usually do the classic sets and workouts, timed intervals, etc. I swam for 4 years with the high school and age groupers (while in my 40's). Last year I trained for a distance open water race and loved it, although the time spent doing the distance in the pool could get grueling. Not really boring, but the counting and spelling words and phrases out to keep count of laps got old. I have not tried counting laps since getting the player, so don't even know how many yards I did last night. But I felt like I was dancing the whole time, even flying.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:24:25 GMT

SwimP3 made by Finis Best money I've ever spent for swimming. Loads and charges through your USB port and holds about 2.5 hours of music and will go over 3.5 hours on a full charge.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:37:38 GMT

what the f was i thinking signing up for this breathe ... :dedhorse: haha, i have to admit that goes through my head quite a lot,lol. In the pool i manly focus on the number of the length that i am on, i do technique checks regularily, but manly i focus on the number, same with in open water i generally count to 100 strokes, then restart, not sure why, but i do, it helps keep me in the present, if i let my mind wander to much i loose sight of what i am doing, if that makes sense.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Muppet — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:34:07 GMT

So what are some things you guys think about when your swimming for hours consecutively? 1-2-3-breathe 1-2-breathe 1-2-3-breathe what the f was i thinking signing up for this breathe ... :dedhorse:

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:12:35 GMT

I agree with the zen state. Transcend the swimmer and become the swimming

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:32:34 GMT

The best days for me are when I think about absolutely nothing. I spend a lot of time concentrating on the sound and feel and my breathing. Much like meditating in a studio, a focus on breathing can help you get past thoughts about anything else, including pain, boredome, weakness, fear, etc. If I'm in a pool, I also like to visulaize what I will see when I breathe in the swim I'm training for. Breathe right - see the beach and kayak; breathe left see the horizon. For me, there is nothing better than having my kayaker stop me to drink and I can't imagine it's been more than a few minutes since my last stop.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

waves101 — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:17:18 GMT

Usually about 2 weeks before I do an OW swim, I'll count strokes in the lap pool. I'm not worried about the strokes per length. What I try to do is develop a cadence. Then when I get in the OW, I'll just start the cadence and count strokes as I go. I try to turn my brain off except for the counting and keeping the cadence. Yes, I realize this is very OCD but it works for me.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:09:56 GMT

I swam about a 5k today with four others. We stopped twice at our designated turning points to regroup/chat. I tried to keep my focus on technique, hold a good line without excessive sighting and not let the barracudas get more of my attention than they deserve. I swam a 6k postal a few weeks ago. The second third was hard because my mind started drifting, but I was able to get it back. Yoga and meditation help me. A long swim can be a very satisfying way to experience a zen like state.

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:09:24 GMT

Yes, I think I tend to be just about an equal mix of both OCD and ADD. I am an interval trainer by nature, so swimming for these long consecutive swims was a big change. I asked for the swimp3 for christmas or my birthday, and I think adding that to my training will significantly improve me attention span. generally now I do need to focus a bit on technique as I have had shoulder problems, including bi-lateral shoulder reconstruction surgeries. I also go through the alphabet and name people I know who start with each letter, food that starts with each letter and animals, thats helped a bit, but I was wondering what else everyone thinks about while they swim:-D?? math equations would not be wise for me, hee hee, I am definatly not a mathamatician, I would end up having to swim for hours upon hours!

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:51:21 GMT

1) First & foremost, TECHNIQUE, esp. as I fatigue. 2) Math equations. 3) Trying to pace off others. (Not just pace with them, but if I am slower, trying to keep them from lapping me, or if I'm faster trying to see how often I can lap them.) 4) Others in the pool. Bonus points for attractive women. 5) Stroke counting every 10 laps or so. 6) Throw in a 50+ yard acceleration every x minutes. (5-10). 7) Try to remember things. (e.g Name of every grade school teacher you had. Name of every girl you ever kissed (and didn't laugh at you afterward). Name of every pet you ever had, etc.) 8) More math equations. Unlike Rob, I try to avoid thinking about music since one song tends to get stuck in my head - who really wants to listen to The Knack's "My Sharona" for 3 hours? It is important to keep a balance between disassociation (most of the list above) and association (being totally aware of your technique, aches, pains, etc). With practice, you will find your balance. -LBJ

RE: Teach me some mind games...

Former Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:12:36 GMT

I'm really glad you started this topic as I am looking for ways to occupy my mind, too. But mine will be open ocean and 18 miles of it. Maybe that swimp3 thing should be something to consider. If not, then I probably for sure will get to experience a zen state; just hope I come out of it:D Thanks for all the tips, everybody. Donna