dirty ethel rackham Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Hey all you fitness swimmers... How do you count laps? I find that I lose track all the time and would love for some way to keep track of the laps I swim. I am nearsighted and don't wear contacts so I can't rely on a clock or anything like that. Are there any inexpensive devices to help me? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimomma Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I just count. But I have observed my lane-mates doing a couple of different things. You can get these little counters that are large plastic beads on a string. You move a bead at each lap (or 100 or whatever). They are sold at any swim website. There is also a guy at the pool that has some sort of system with kickboards. He has two side by side and rotates them in some way that is meaningful to him to keep count. Despite studying his system for months (yes, I get bored while swimming), I have yet to crack his code but I can imagine different ways I would do it. I would probably use my flip flops instead of kickboards. That would be free. There is yet abbot woman who uses her i-pad in a waterproof case. It has some sort of app that she just smacks it at each lap. It also has a nice big running clock that she uses to pace. I sometimes use it too:) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 (edited) I count based on set/what I'm doing. So 200 free, 200 kick, 200 breast, 200 back etc., whatever. Or on an "I don't feel like swimming" day 100's ;) Anyway, at the end of whatever set I just completed I add up the total and what I've done. Sometimes I still lose track. I never swim 50's because then I ALWAYS lose track :tongue_smilie: Edited February 12, 2016 by Upward Journey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Do you have a hand tally counter? They are usually used to count the number of visitors to a place. We just put them at the pool side next to the lane marking we are following. E.g. http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Tally-Counter-Metal-Case/dp/B002C075ZO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmseB Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I saw an abacus at the end of a lane the other day at the pool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minerva Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I just swim by the clock. I have never been able to remember laps, nor even remember that I am supposed to be remembering. If the swimming is going well, I actually forget that I am swimming. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I just swim by the clock. I have never been able to remember laps, nor even remember that I am supposed to be remembering. If the swimming is going well, I actually forget that I am swimming. Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me. I can't see the clock without my glasses and I don't wear glasses while swimming. I am working up to swimming a mile so I want to keep track of distance. I would like to be able to not think about swimming, which is why I want a lap counter. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I also count by sets. The most I count at a time is 500. I might go 500 free, 200 back, 200 breast and repeat that. I might throw in kicking. If no one is in the lane I'll add butterfly 50s or do 200 IMs. Breaking it up into sets of different strokes and keep kicking makes it easier to count and helps hit different muscle groups. If you are doing swim training because you plan to do triathlon, I would advise against only doing free. You can make the bulk of your workout free, but you should add another stroke so you have something to switch to when something in the race throws you off and you need to compose yourself. If you do back stroke you can also use that portion of your workout to focus on body rotation. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 I also count by sets. The most I count at a time is 500. I might go 500 free, 200 back, 200 breast and repeat that. I might throw in kicking. If no one is in the lane I'll add butterfly 50s or do 200 IMs. Breaking it up into sets of different strokes and keep kicking makes it easier to count and helps hit different muscle groups. If you are doing swim training because you plan to do triathlon, I would advise against only doing free. You can make the bulk of your workout free, but you should add another stroke so you have something to switch to when something in the race throws you off and you need to compose yourself. If you do back stroke you can also use that portion of your workout to focus on body rotation. Oh, you're so funny, assuming I'd have any business doing a triathalon. :laugh: I swim for exercise and vary things up because I have so many joints that hurt that I have to switch strokes after about 200 yards at the most. I just bought nose plugs so that I can do backstroke without getting a sore throat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I got prescription swim goggles for around $50. I swam for years not being able to see. It is so much nicer now! I never count laps, I just aim for X amount of time. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 You can count by sets, you can count by the number of times you pass (or get passed) by a fellow swimmer, you can count the number of stops you take (and only take them after x number of laps). You can try a couple different things and see what works best for you. I'm terrible at counting, and the more I focus on the number the less sure I am of how many laps I've done. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 When I do actually swim, I always do up and back of each stroke and then count how many times I transition back to the first stroke. A knitting counter would be very easy to use--I was walking today on a small track and wished I'd had one with me. There are super simple ones that just dial up a number, and they are all plastic. Otherwise, I like the bead idea--just slide to one side or something like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vera Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I have a little thing that I wear on my thumb. I just push the button after each lap. It is wonderful. Sorry that I didn't get to see you last week. As I'm sure you can imagine, the little peanut was upset. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 When I do actually swim, I always do up and back of each stroke and then count how many times I transition back to the first stroke. A knitting counter would be very easy to use--I was walking today on a small track and wished I'd had one with me. There are super simple ones that just dial up a number, and they are all plastic. Otherwise, I like the bead idea--just slide to one side or something like that. A knitting counter! I didn't know they made those things. I think I'll get two, one for swimming and one for crochet!! I have a little thing that I wear on my thumb. I just push the button after each lap. It is wonderful. Sorry that I didn't get to see you last week. As I'm sure you can imagine, the little peanut was upset. What kind of thing for your thumb? That is what I would love. I just don't want to spend lots of $$ since swim stuff seems to get misplaced around here. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up. Sorry your daughter didn't have a great comp. Help her remember that just getting to Nationals is an honor ... my daughter has never made it (high hopes for ropes season.) I spent a large portion of the weekend judging. I got prescription swim goggles for around $50. I swam for years not being able to see. It is so much nicer now! I never count laps, I just aim for X amount of time. I would love prescription swim goggles, but I'm afraid I would lose them. I'll ask when I go pick up my glasses next week. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindrops Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I put my written workout in a Ziplock bag, and do one set at a time. The total yardage is written on the workout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I just got myself an waterproof ipod shuffle. It sounds great underwater and above. I don't do music on it, but audio books, but you could set up a music playlist for the number of minutes you want to swim for. You are swimming for time, not laps that way, but if you figure out how long a mile should take you, just set it for that amount of time. I got it from underwater audio.com. They buy them from Apple, then waterproof them from the inside out. It works great and comes with waterproof earbuds that have a shorter cord than regular earbuds so they aren't floating around, or need to be wrapped around something. But they also come with an extension cord too. And they were only $139 for the shuffle and buds. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonbon Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Cheap, easy solution: chalk. The sticks get a bit mushy if they get wet, but it's relatively inexpensive. I keep a little bag of them in my swim bag, especially broken bits leftover from homeschool. If you can keep it in a dry spot, a small piece lasts for a few workouts. Write a tally on the side of the pool and wipe off sets or lines as you go. Maybe sidewalk chalk would last longer? Actually, I'm getting better at just remembering the laps and I have a new trick, so I'm not using the chalk anymore: I know which direction is odd and which is even, so that helps. As I'm swimming laps, I think of a daughter, niece, nephew, family friend that's that age this year. So lap 1 is for X child (1-year-old), lap 2 is for X child (2-year-old), etc. It's kind of nice because then I might also pray for that person as I swim. I also think about how I am swimming that lap for X person because I am taking care of my body and will be around for them longer/healthier if I keep swimming. If I don't know anyone the age of the lap, I just try to think of another trick to count that one. Sometimes I do screw up and forget the lap. Then hopefully a lane mate or the next lane over knows where we are! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38carrots Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me. I can't see the clock without my glasses and I don't wear glasses while swimming. I am working up to swimming a mile so I want to keep track of distance. I would like to be able to not think about swimming, which is why I want a lap counter. I keep repeating the numbers in my head, with each stroke. Which totally prevents me from day dreaming or day planning or anything else even mildly entertaining. And I still lose count. I'd like to find a good counter as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38carrots Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me. I can't see the clock without my glasses and I don't wear glasses while swimming. I am working up to swimming a mile so I want to keep track of distance. I would like to be able to not think about swimming, which is why I want a lap counter. A simple water proof watch might work. I also prefer to count laps (instead of by the time), but after reading this thread I think I can approximate the distance through time. Swimming by the clock sounds so much more relaxing than counting laps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vera Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 http://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sportcount-lapcounter-4028/?q=1 That is similar to the one I have. I can't find mine anymore. It is very simple and it has lasted several years. I just leave it in my swim bag with goggles, hair ties, etc. The bag never comes out of my car. Otherwise I would lose it in a heartbeat. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Brooks Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Prescription goggles at Swimoutlet are cheap. Look for AquaSphere. As for counting laps, devise an easy to remember set of 500 and repeat that. Include kick and pull laps. Think about trying to accomplish 2000yds a swim. You can use IM order to help you remember your order: Butterfly, Back, Breast, Free. Drop the Butterfly and just use the other three as a memory cue. Example: Warm-up 500yds 150 free-5 laps 150 kick-5 laps 100 pull-4 laps 100 free-4 laps It is more motivating to swim with a masters group than alone. A masters coach will correct errors in your stroke and you will swim more efficiently. The group aspect will keep you motivated to swim even when you would rather not swim. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I keep getting Facebook ads for the Speedo Shine, which is supposed to count laps the way Fitbit does steps, though I think the Shine also counts steps. I have no idea whether it works or not, just saw the ad again and thought of this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
***** Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I like this question, at least it shows me I am not alone! Everyone has such unique answers. Mine hasn't been posted, so I will share: The name of the pool is painted on the wall, so it helps me to keep track according to the letter I am on. For instance, if the pool was called West Place (easy, because it has 9 letters= 1/4 mi.), I say to myself, ok, I am on W. Next lap, I think about the E...sounds corny, but it has helped! Sometimes I just forget totally! Like vonbon, I pray. I am getting in to quite a zen time when I swim. I also try to think nothing at all, to leave the door open to hear the Lord. But, that is so hard to do, to not think of anything! I do like the thumb counter idea...I will have to look in to that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 (edited) http://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sportcount-lapcounter-4028/?q=1 That is similar to the one I have. I can't find mine anymore. It is very simple and it has lasted several years. I just leave it in my swim bag with goggles, hair ties, etc. The bag never comes out of my car. Otherwise I would lose it in a heartbeat. I saw that on there, but didn't realize that it was waterproof. I assumed that, because it is electronic, that it would not work in the water. I may have to give that a try. Prescription goggles at Swimoutlet are cheap. Look for AquaSphere. As for counting laps, devise an easy to remember set of 500 and repeat that. Include kick and pull laps. Think about trying to accomplish 2000yds a swim. You can use IM order to help you remember your order: Butterfly, Back, Breast, Free. Drop the Butterfly and just use the other three as a memory cue. Example: Warm-up 500yds 150 free-5 laps 150 kick-5 laps 100 pull-4 laps 100 free-4 laps It is more motivating to swim with a masters group than alone. A masters coach will correct errors in your stroke and you will swim more efficiently. The group aspect will keep you motivated to swim even when you would rather not swim. Butterfly is not happening here. Not with my shoulder. I'll have to look into the swim goggles, though. The pool where I swim is only 25 yards, so I would lose track before I got to 150 yards. I would love to join a Masters program, but I am not getting up at 4:30 am to swim. No way. No how. Lately, dd and I have been swimming in the middle of the day when I pick her up from her half-day at public school. It seems to work for both of us. Less than perfect is better than not at all. :) Edited February 14, 2016 by dirty ethel rackham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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