Finis Focused: First test of the tempo timer

SWIM 58 mins and 2400y

WU 200S 200P 200K, used my new forearm fulcrums in the pull, alternating 50's with swimming
MS 2x800
CD 200 choice

Last week my swim order came in and I was delighted with how it looked coming out of the box: yellow and black Tyr suit, yellow and black forearm fulcrums, and a yellow tempo timer in a yellow and black box! I should have taken a picture, it would have BEEn great to capture that!

Today was my first test of all the new gear. As an aside, I didn't realize how loose my old Tyr suit was getting! The fulcrums were interesting and all the more so during the CD when I realized I was wrapping my thumbs around them -- that's a no-no!

But what I really want to rave about is the tempo trainer. I worked perfectly today. I picked a 50 interval of 1:05 and set it to beep every 1 min and 5 seconds. That would be my goal time for each 50. This was a comfortable pace that I hoped to maintain through both 800's. Would I fade? I wanted to find out!

I didn't! In fact, I had a brief pause at the end of each 50, suggestion I could have done 1:03 or 1:04. If I'd do a decent turn, I could do maybe less!

Due to the way this 800 was timed, I can't really compare it to the 800 TT I did with NK a few weeks ago, which came in at 16:45. These were a preset 1:05x16 so not a fair comparison.

I was feeling really good this morning (I continued the sleep changes that worked Saturday night, this makes me sad and energetic at the same time). No lingering in the shower at all, I picked a schedule and stuck to it. So my mind and momentum were rolling.

In each 50y, I'd focus on something in my form to see if I could decrease the time in the 50. A few things seemed to shave off a second or two, nothing major yet. Midway through the 2nd 800 my left shoulder/lats started feeling it. At first I thought it was because I was using my left hand to hold my head up to breathe? But some playing on that had me doubting. I don't doubt that I will use my left hand in that way, but I also considered the fact that I'm NOT using my arm that way so much now and the muscles are responding, and that I tend to turn with my left arm touching/hanging on the wall. So 1 of those or a combination of the three.

The time doesn't have an Off button, so it kept beeping through my shower. It made me aware of the time, kept me moving. Maybe I need one of these in the rest of my life...

Oh and I tried the baby shampoo trick to keep my goggles from fogging. I think it worked!