Interval training is by far the most effective training model you can use. Indeed it is the best way to get your aerobic and anaerobic capabilities up to the next level, no matter what kind of swimmer you are. Whether you swim for competing or for staying in shape and lose fat you should be doing interval training to optimize the outcome of your effort.
I alway use this training technique no matter if I am swimming or if I am out for a run. The only thing I found a bit difficult with interval training is to keep track of my intervals especially if I plan a tricky combination of exercise and resting time.
My watch does not help me much on that. I do not like to have to look at it when I am doing a high intensity interval training, nor I like it when I wear my foggy googles. In the swimming poll I can some time, depending on the pool I am training in, use the big pace clock with colorful hands, but again, it is not always available and easy to see.
So I decided to start looking for a solution. I figured there must have been some nice guy which engineered an interval training timer which could be easy to use, cheap and solve all my problems.
Indeed I found it, it is called Gymboss Interval Timer from Gymboss.com. I know this little product is going to make you very happy and it could be a great present for your training buddy as well. So what does the Gymboss interval timer do?
Basically you can use it to practice any sort of interval training. It comes with one or two different time intervals from 2 seconds to 99 minutes. These can be used to repeat a time interval for how many times you want or separate exercise interval and rest interval, for example in a tabata interval training session.
Set the first interval timer at 20 seconds and the second one at 10 seconds. Set the number of repetition to be done to 8 and there you go you tabata session. Push the start bottom and start getting rocked.
It can be even used as a traditional stopwatch or countdown timer as well. It keeps you on time with your training by beeping or vibrating (or both) when the next repetition has to start. It is a very easy and effective way to keep your focus on the exercise without having to worry about your watch.
You can find the complete list of functions on the Gymboss.com Interval Timer web page, but I report it here for simplicity:
One or two different time intervals from 2 seconds to 99 minutes
Auto mode keeps repeating through intervals
Set up to 99 rounds
Manual mode acts as countdown timer
Stopwatch Function
Alarm by beep, vibration, or both
Alarm duration of 1, 5, or 10 seconds
Size of a small pager
(1 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches)
Water and shock resistant
AAA battery required
and all this for only $ 19.95.
I have it and I am really satisfied with it.
You can use this precious training companion in many many ways. Let me mention just a few I have been practicing with, in and out of the swimming pool.
While out running I have been doing both Tabata interval training and more traditional interval training with longer intervals (2 minutes running fast 1 minute slow run for 15 times) to speed up my pace and push my anaerobic fitness.
In the swimming pool I have done my interval sets as usual without having to worry about missing the start of the next 100 m. What I found really handy about the Gymboss interval timer is that the beep (at its loudest setting) is really loud and there is no way you are going to miss it even in a noisy environment.
After having used the timer for few weeks I have found a couple of tricks that I think are going to be useful for you too. First of all the timer is water resistant and not water proof, that means it would stand some water but it probably would not survive a dive in the swimming pool. I have solved this by putting the timer in a small sealed plastic bag which protects the timer from accidental dives in the pool and still makes it perfectly readable and audible.
Also, the Gymboss Interval Timer can be set to beep for 1, 5 or 10 seconds at the start of the next repetition. It would start beeping when the time interval you have set ends. If you are doing a training with one fixed interval time including the resting time such as for example a 10 X 100 m freestyle at 90 secs, I would set the time interval for 90 seconds and start every time the timer starts beeping. This is great.
Sometimes, however I want to be reminded a bit in advance when the next repetition starts, so I set two time intervals. The first one for 85 secs and the second one for 5 secs. Once the first interval is up the interval timer start beeping and I know I have 5 seconds to go before the next repetition is due. As the second interval ends the timer beeps again and I know I have to start. I found this setting handy especially when I am doing heavy workouts and I do not want to go reading the display to know how more resting time I have.
Well to conclude I would say if you are like me and want to just think about the training you are on and not have to bother about watching the clock all the time to know where you stand and make calculation to know when you need to start again, go and get yourself a Gymboss Interval Timer. You can do that by clicking the link below. I suggest you take one with the soft coat colors which has a very nice surface finishing added to it.
Buy it clicking on this link Gymboss.com for only $ 19.95 and you will help this site to keep growing.
Thank you for your support and good lack with your training.
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