by Dr. Paul Hutinger
Question: The pool where I train, doesn't have a pace clock. What are my options? My pool has pace clocks, but I can't see them without my glasses. What are my options?
Answer: Pace clocks are a valuable asset to your total Masters program as it adds variety and motivation to your personal training. Therefore, in both instances, the solution is a personal pace clock. A commercial 15 inch pace clock can cost $130 and a programmable one, $1275. My teammate, Elmer Luke, high school swim coach for 30 years, came up with an inexpensive alternative, for under $10. Basic 9" black and white kitchen clock, with second hand, at Target or Walmart--$5-7. 5 inch diameter PVC pipe, 3 to 4 inches long, at Home Depot--under $2.1 AA battery--$1. With a hacksaw, cut a grove the width of the clock and approx. 2 inches deep, at one end of the pipe.
You now have your own portable pace clock. It is light enough (1 lb.) and small enough (two pieces) to fit in your swim bag. When you get to the pool, set the clock in the pipe and position it on the deck where you can see it from your lane.
If you swim in an end lane, set it on the side of the pool, so you will be able to see it at each turn. Luke used this technique for his hour swim. He checked his 50 splits and knew he was on the pace he wanted. If you set it at the end of your lane, use it for your intervals. With open turns, you can see the hands on each turn. If you do flip turns, do occasional open turns to check your pace on longer swims. You now have the means to include timed pace swims and sprints in your workouts, and evaluate your training progress throughout the season.
In a future article, I will include suggestions for using the pace clock.
Anyone wanting additional information, or having personal questions, please send a large SASE to: Dr. Paul Hutinger, 1755 Georgia Ave NE, St. Petersburg FL 33703. You can e-mail me at phut@usms.org.