counting swim lengths

[Deleted User]

"Dr Nic Approach"
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Avoid eye contact
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Bring flowers and alchohol

[Deleted User]

Then, just to complicate things, at the moment I'm trying to improve technique - counting no of strokes per length as well!!

errrm...

[Deleted User]

what about leaving a pen and paper at both ends of the pool. after swimming one lap do a quick stroke with the pen - at end of session - gather up sodden paper and count!

Jj

or tuck a long serrated knife in the leg of your Speedos (crusty or otherwise) and use it to cut a notch in the pool attendant's leg for each length...

[Deleted User]

Actually at Woolston (Warrington) you could just scoop up a piece of the debris each time (hair elastic, band aid, dead spider etc) and that way the pool will eventual be clean and tidy!!!

Jj

ew # 2

candy ollier

jonny c - i cracked that one ages ago - swim in an 18 metre pool and you can keep a tab on stroke efficiency by the number of breaths, without consciously having to count

wouldn't work in a 25 m pool unless you had enormous great lungs though

candy ollier

yogajoga - or alternatively you could sit at the end of the pool in the pose and outfit from the photograph and count peoples' lengths for them

it would work for me

[Deleted User]

What - you mean 18m without breathing?
Err, i do about three or four breaths per 25m

candy ollier

that's easy then - if you are aware of how many breaths you've done... that shows your stroke efficiency dunnit?

[Deleted User]

Yep,
and still not improving at the moment.
Still cant count lengths though..
I was about 5 lengths out by the time I'd done my swimathon, luckily erred the right way so I had a nice surprise at the end not a horrible one (extra 5 would have killed me!!!)

Monique

I wonder if one of those cloak room counters would work, or a way of attaching my watch between my thumb and forefinger so I can press the button one handed, hmmmm I need to get busy with elastic hair bobbles and the scissors.

Bouncing Barlist

What about a water proof marker pen? You could draw gates on the pool wall or the bottom as you tumble turn?

Or....... An abacus type device (like they have on bar football tables) at the end of the pool and slide a little wooden bead across ever two lengths.

Seriously this counting lark is impossible...

Monique

At Morley someone would sabotage that Carl, they are a bit more sensible about things at Dewsbury though. I have an abacus I might try it.

Sam Panther

I just count the number of metres I have done:

25, 50, 75 etc

Less confusing than remembering whether I have just done 12th or 14th length, for me.

Also do the fractions thing.

Bouncing Barlist

Know what you mean Monique, last week some kid stole my locker key. My fault I guess as I leave it on the poolside becuase its one of these wrist thingies and I cant be doing with wearing it.

Lol I was worried for a minute till I spied the likely suspect and confronted them. Though in defence they did say they thought someone had lost it (yeahhh).

Monique

I'm not talking about children it's the grown up breast stroke mafia that give me the willies.

Monique

Plus Dewsbury is a 33 metre pool, I soppose I could count 100 every 3

Dr Nic Twinks

YOu do 3 or 4 breaths per 25m??? What? do you only breathe every 5 strokes or something, or do you only take 9 or 12 strokes per 25m?

As someone said just now, count distance (25, 50, 100, whatever) rather than "1, 2, 3" - much less room for miscounting.

[Deleted User]

One of the advantages of being a member of the 'breast stroke mafia' (sorry monique)is that it doesn't matter how many lengths I do as long as I get to work on time.

[Deleted User]

gah.. breast stroke mafia.
(sorry, that's a seperate rant)

[Deleted User]

If Dr Nic( given the amount of swimming you do)if you say 4 breaths is wrong then it must be wrong!
I breath every fourth stroke at the minute and do about 2-22 strokes per length so its actually five breaths.

So this is wrong then? I gave up bilateral breathing (brath every 3 strokes?)for the time being as somebody told me my balance was all wrong (twisting too much).

I'm currently doing week 1 (yes one!!) of the training schedule in 220 magazine.

[Deleted User]

sorry i meant 20-22 obviously!!

Dr Nic Twinks

No, it makes sense, I just thought you meant you breathe every 2 or bilaterally like most people...that would mean you were only taking 8 strokes per 25m which would be amazing!! (20-22 is still very good, though)

[Deleted User]

i swim with a friend and we swap lead in sets so generally I am only responsible for counting max 16 at a time. when i swim on my own i get bored and get out.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Dr Nic. Have decided to take the plunge (urrg no more jokes!!!) and get some coaching.
Manc Tri club sessions v good but with 40-50 odd people theres little scope for feedback from the instructor.

Dr Nic Twinks

20-22 strokes per length is really good Jonny (unless you're 8 foot tall with arms like an orangutang) but coaching would still be benficial.

A club coach ought to give you a bit of time during the session but it's not the same a a swimming "teacher" or one on one lessons.

WildWill

I do 11-14 strokes per length on a steady swim and breath every 3 - i use body rotation to my advantage to help push me through the water

Bouncing Barlist

What is a stroke? I was going to ask this in your TI thread Will?

Is a stoke each arm entry or do you just count how many right arm entrys?

i.e. for a 25m length my right arm enters the water about 19-21 times, is this 12-21 strokes per length or 38-42?

Bouncing Barlist

should say 19-21 or 38-42.