Lap counter for swims

I thought I might be the only silly person who can not keep my count!

This subject comes up periodically. I did a search on "lap counter" for the last six months and found 10 posts. One product that's been suggested is from: http://www.sportcount.com/product.php3
I don't have one yet but I've looked a few times locally and not found anything like it. Might have to order online.

My pool has tile along the deck - I use my water bottle to count 50s or 100s.  1 tile = xx yards.  Works fine, until some bonehead moves my stuff so they can hop in...

I use the lap counter mentioned above.  It fits on my index finger and I drive it with my thumb.  It counts laps and time - pretty cool   However, this time of year, I'm doing all my swimming in a pond wearing my HRM instead.  One lap = 2000yds and I CAN count to two - working up to three

I have used my heart rate monitor, the lap function (which is a big red button right on top) which allows me to use it for 100 laps. This is a brain saver as I can count to 100, but not when I am swimming too!!

I forgot mine this morning and had to really, really concentrate on what dumb lap I was on. Complete waste of good brain cells.

Try to use any stop watch that has a lap feature. My HR monitor (strap not used) will only give me the number of laps, but also the fastest lap!

How cool is that!

I throw on my HRM and know that over 3200 m I will average 2:00 per 100 m. So, I know I need to stop when the watch reaches 64:00. Periodically, I will stop and make sure I am still on pace to make sure I am not cheating.

Mike

All time cheapest lap counter. A shoe string with beads on it. I slide a bead every 100 yards. If you wand to keep track of different portions, just slide them into groups. Had several people comment on it at the pool.

I second the water bottle on the tiles. I have been doing that for a while.
Cheap and easy

I use the finger lap counter on pool swims.  That way, I can count my strokes.  Other wise, counting my strokes plus laps I always lose track. 

I used to use a few different things including "pennies and a small container" (looking back, that was a little silly). At ST, one lady had an idea that adapted. Just use the letters of the alphabet ... A, B, C, D, E, F ..... I do sets of "A-E" (250y). It should be fairly obvious if you lose count, how many 250's you have done.

If I am doing sets of 400s, then I just use "A-H".

If you get bored while swimming you can think of items-names-girls that begin with the letter of the lap you're on.

Seems easier, than spending $30 on the "finger counter". I also have the "red button lap counter" on my HRM ... but I never considered just using just the watch part. I may try that ... especially on days where something like "15x100y" is on the schedule. Sometimes it's kind of fun to keep track of everything and note how your pace changes (or does not change) throughout the workout.

I also just use the lap function of my stopwatch.  Every 100m I press it and it tells me which lap I am on.  Great brain saver.  Before I had this watch, I would also use the method of approximate time.  This also helps as a motivator to stay in the 2:00/100m range.  If after a while I added a minute somwhere along the way then I would adjust my timing.  Counting hundreds is definitely easier.

yup, same method i use, count by 100's and just take a quick glance at my watch underwater at the end of each 100, i know how fast im swimming so its just some quick math.

I also count hundreds. Usually I try to pick it up a bit every 4th lap as well, so I can go slow, slow, slow, fast (100), slow, slow, slow, fast (200).

I also have a pretty good idea of my time to swim 100 over a distance, so I can just go by time too.

Jen

Never used a lap counter, but I always had a workout planned. For instance, if you do 30x50, a pyramid from 100 to 500 to 100, 10x100 fast, then 8x50 warm down, you know you did 5400m. Being able to count to a 500 though may be difficult, but it never kills the workout too much.

I just ask one of the recreational swimmer guys to count my laps as I swim. Gives them an excuse to oggle my bodacious tri-training body!

just kidding! (I swear I've only done that once)

Edited by subuerkle 2005-06-14 1:26 PM