Remember the lap!
April 27, 2012 4:06 PM Subscribe
Silly gadget help: exercise aid edition. Lap counter recommendations.
I run around a track, and have set goals, anywhere from 16 laps to 25 laps, for a total of 4 or 6.25 miles. The best way to take my mind off from the grind aspect of it, is to get lost in thought and zone out.
Problem: if I zone out, and sometimes even when I don't, I often find myself unsure of how many laps I've already done. Yes, it may sound absurd, but if you've done this for x number of months along the same track, it's very easy for stuff to be all a blur. Ordinarily, I count laps starting from a certain identifiable point, and every time I pass that point, I add a number... only to forget what the number was by the time I approach the point again. Yes, the exercise is supposed to slow down Alzheimer's - maybe I need to up the number of laps.
Solution: my idea is to carry some kind of clicker in my hand, and every time I pass the "lap point", I can click the clicker and it should keep adding the laps, so I can glance and see how many I've done and how many I still need to do. I know that I will NOT forget to click - that's not a problem. My problem is strictly remembering which lap I'm on.
Question: So what can be that clicker? I thought of some kind of sports watch, but I don't like that idea because usually these have fiddly small buttons which it is not convenient to push, and when I run in semi-darkness, there's the added problem of seeing small numbers on my wrist. It needs only one function - with every click on the (hopefully) large button, it will push the number up by one, and display it, so any time I look at it, I can tell at a glance which lap number I'm on.
What is that gadget and where can I get it?
I run around a track, and have set goals, anywhere from 16 laps to 25 laps, for a total of 4 or 6.25 miles. The best way to take my mind off from the grind aspect of it, is to get lost in thought and zone out.
Problem: if I zone out, and sometimes even when I don't, I often find myself unsure of how many laps I've already done. Yes, it may sound absurd, but if you've done this for x number of months along the same track, it's very easy for stuff to be all a blur. Ordinarily, I count laps starting from a certain identifiable point, and every time I pass that point, I add a number... only to forget what the number was by the time I approach the point again. Yes, the exercise is supposed to slow down Alzheimer's - maybe I need to up the number of laps.
Solution: my idea is to carry some kind of clicker in my hand, and every time I pass the "lap point", I can click the clicker and it should keep adding the laps, so I can glance and see how many I've done and how many I still need to do. I know that I will NOT forget to click - that's not a problem. My problem is strictly remembering which lap I'm on.
Question: So what can be that clicker? I thought of some kind of sports watch, but I don't like that idea because usually these have fiddly small buttons which it is not convenient to push, and when I run in semi-darkness, there's the added problem of seeing small numbers on my wrist. It needs only one function - with every click on the (hopefully) large button, it will push the number up by one, and display it, so any time I look at it, I can tell at a glance which lap number I'm on.
What is that gadget and where can I get it?
Best answer: I think a knitting row counter might be what you need. Digital. Handheld one button clicky thing. As a ring.
posted by peachfuzz at 4:17 PM on April 27, 2012
posted by peachfuzz at 4:17 PM on April 27, 2012
The low-tech version is to load your pocket with 25 small pebbles or pennies and throw one out onto the infield each time you pass the first turn. You're done when your pocket is empty.
or you could carry gummy bears and eat one every lap not that i've ever done that
posted by Snarl Furillo at 4:21 PM on April 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
or you could carry gummy bears and eat one every lap not that i've ever done that
posted by Snarl Furillo at 4:21 PM on April 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Fantastic! I like the one big button thing, rather than two smaller "+" and "-", as the latter is too fiddly and requires locating the appropriate button rather than going by feel. So. Right now, I'm leaning toward this, found by peachfuzz, based partially on the Amazon user reviews:
Clover Knitting Stitch Counter Mini Kacha-Kacha
but I'm still open to options. I don't mind holding in my hand, doesn't have to be on a wrist. I am intrigued by the ring counter peachfuzz found, but the Amazon reviews are horrendous, so I'm steering clear... but the convenience of it being on your finger is quite nice.
Snarl Furillo: nice in theory, fail in practice. First, on many of my outfits, especially the shorts, I don't have pockets. Second, I sometimes want to know how many laps I have left, and counting a pocket full of stones/objects while running is a drag. Third, jangle problem. Fourth, too many movements - hand in pocket, pull stone, if last one have to root about in the pocket, pull out, throw... what a production!
posted by VikingSword at 5:23 PM on April 27, 2012
Clover Knitting Stitch Counter Mini Kacha-Kacha
but I'm still open to options. I don't mind holding in my hand, doesn't have to be on a wrist. I am intrigued by the ring counter peachfuzz found, but the Amazon reviews are horrendous, so I'm steering clear... but the convenience of it being on your finger is quite nice.
Snarl Furillo: nice in theory, fail in practice. First, on many of my outfits, especially the shorts, I don't have pockets. Second, I sometimes want to know how many laps I have left, and counting a pocket full of stones/objects while running is a drag. Third, jangle problem. Fourth, too many movements - hand in pocket, pull stone, if last one have to root about in the pocket, pull out, throw... what a production!
posted by VikingSword at 5:23 PM on April 27, 2012
Get a ten dollar pedometer and see how many steps a lap. If you lose count, you can look at the pedometer and do the math.
posted by hootch at 9:12 PM on April 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hootch at 9:12 PM on April 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
I heart my kacha-kachas for knitting. I have full-size and the mini, and have threaded the mini on a cord so I can wear it around my neck, which I think would work great for running.
But if you're interested in a DIY solution: I made a bracelet of elastic tied around my wrist with five pony beads on it, to count laps in the pool. I moved one bead from the inside of my wrist to the outside of my wrist at the end of each lap.
posted by BrashTech at 9:54 AM on April 28, 2012
But if you're interested in a DIY solution: I made a bracelet of elastic tied around my wrist with five pony beads on it, to count laps in the pool. I moved one bead from the inside of my wrist to the outside of my wrist at the end of each lap.
posted by BrashTech at 9:54 AM on April 28, 2012
Best answer: I've seen the ushers at my church use a hand-held clicky counter to count the people in the pews. Looks like this one on Amazon. It might work better than the knitting counter because the shape is designed to be held in your hand the whole time, rather than hang around your neck and then you have to grab it while running and then click it.
posted by CathyG at 5:06 PM on April 28, 2012
posted by CathyG at 5:06 PM on April 28, 2012
I've used rubber bands for this same thing- x amount of rubber bands on right hand, switch one rubber band to the other hand every lap. It's simple enough that it can be done easily without messing you up. I tried using something like a counter but it's way too difficult for me, I accidentally hit the button way too many times.
posted by kro at 10:33 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kro at 10:33 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: OK, so I ordered two counters through Amazon.
Clover Knitting Stitch Counter Mini Kacha-Kacha
and
Robic M-357 Tally Counter
When they arrive, I'll try them out, and file a report here. If neither work, for any reason, I'll try some of the other options recommended here.
Thank you everybody!
posted by VikingSword at 12:55 AM on April 29, 2012
Clover Knitting Stitch Counter Mini Kacha-Kacha
and
Robic M-357 Tally Counter
When they arrive, I'll try them out, and file a report here. If neither work, for any reason, I'll try some of the other options recommended here.
Thank you everybody!
posted by VikingSword at 12:55 AM on April 29, 2012
Response by poster: UPDATE
I have received both counters.
The Robic is considerably larger than the Clover, and also can count up to 9999 vs the Clover's 99. The Robic is easier to zero out, as it's just one turn of a dial, vs the Clover's two dials that need to be pushed up. The Clover also has a locking mechanism that can hold your number so it doesn't get accidentally changed - of no use for my purposes, but notable.
All in all, either can be used for the purpose I purchased them for, though in the end, I think I'll probably use the Clover more, because it is smaller and lighter - though the difference is not dramatic.
Thank you everybody for your answers.
posted by VikingSword at 2:22 PM on May 10, 2012
I have received both counters.
The Robic is considerably larger than the Clover, and also can count up to 9999 vs the Clover's 99. The Robic is easier to zero out, as it's just one turn of a dial, vs the Clover's two dials that need to be pushed up. The Clover also has a locking mechanism that can hold your number so it doesn't get accidentally changed - of no use for my purposes, but notable.
All in all, either can be used for the purpose I purchased them for, though in the end, I think I'll probably use the Clover more, because it is smaller and lighter - though the difference is not dramatic.
Thank you everybody for your answers.
posted by VikingSword at 2:22 PM on May 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brainmouse at 4:09 PM on April 27, 2012