I Make Mistakes on Purpose So You Won't Have To

Sure, that's a long title for a quick article, but this is an event that took place at the pool today.

I developed a short "test practice" that I wanted to do either each week, or a couple times a week, with my SwimSense watch from Finis.  It's nothing incredibly hard, but carries with it a good set and then some stroke work.

I went to the pool, found a lane to myself, set the watch to SWIM mode and got ready to "GoSwim."

Here's the practice, done in a... pay particular attention to this... 25-yard pool:

• 400 free loosen
• 10 x 200 done the following way - 
 - 5 x 200 on 2:45 
 - 5 x 200 on 2:30
The goal in this set is to set a pace on the first 5 that you'll have to maintain on the second five.  This means you'll need to go fast enough on the first five to set up enough rest on the 2nd five.  I was able to maintain a range in time from 2:20, down to 2:13 for the entire set.  I felt pretty good about it, and noticed some variation in my stroke count on the last few.  Fatigue was setting in but it was really one extra stroke with my right arm, which I knew would indicate another stroke cycle on the watch.  That's fine, and I was looking forward to seeing how the data looked.
• 10 x 100 IM done the following way -
 - 5 x 100 on 1:45
 - 5 x 100 on 1:30
Done pretty much the same way as the 200s above, only now I'd be able to see the watch changing strokes.  I was getting tired, but couldn't wait to see the data.

OK... so it was on about #4 of the IMs that some strange thought came in the back of my head.  In going through the initial set up of the watch, I remembered some very specific instructions.  Make sure it's set for which wrist you'll be wearing it on, left or right.  I knew that part was done... THEN... Make sure it's set for the pool length.  No problem.  EXCEPT... The last time I used the watch, I was swimming LONG COURSE!!!

It was on this 100 IM that panic set in.  The data from that great set of 200s is now useless.  To top it off, if the watch thought I was swimming long course, switching strokes halfway through a length is a NO NO.  The IMs... useless.

I stopped swimming, stopped the watch, went to the CONFIG screen and could almost HEAR the doom music... 50 METERS.

A small tear came to my eye.

So, to turn this into a positive story, I decided to make sure you all knew I did this on purpose.  I do these things to make sure you don't make the same mistakes.  I go through this pain for you.

You're welcome.

25 yards.  25 yards.  25 yards.  25 yards.

I won't make this mistake again. :)