When we asked for long-term Wetronome users to come forth, we never expected the following kind words from triathlete Chris Mallin from Surrey, England. Chris is a regular contributor to TriTalk, a UK-based forum for triathletes there to discuss new products, techniques, and events.

What follows are excerpts from Chris' notes he has kept since buying the Wetronome early in 2007. We couldn't ask for better publicity, thanks, Chris!

---

Early feedback quotes of Tri Talk 2007

• First swim with the Wetronome last night - it is amazing!! From this brief experience, it seems to me that the Wetronome has the ability to make the same impact on my swimming as a HRM on my run/cycle. It is like having my own personal coach chatting gently down every length. I was amazed at how easy it was to get used to the WN and to get into synch after the push off. Most importantly, it highlighted the previous inconsistency in SR. All of a sudden there was no excuse for letting this drop (like the alarm on the HRM) and I have something very clear to work on now. ?
• The Wetronome is proving a really useful addition to my training. First, I now feel comfortable that if things start to go haywire, I can just use it to slow everything down and get the stroke (and enjoyment) back. Second, I am now able to feel the difference myself (ie I am ready to start increasing SR) instead of someone telling me what to do. Third, I can now translate my smoother stroke to a higher SR at shorter distances. All of this in a very controlled fashion.?
• However, the real breakthrough in the past two months has been the Wetronome. Every time, my stroke goes a bit awol or I have missed a few sessions, I use the Wetronome to really slow everything down and concentrate on the lessons learned from the drills. Then I use it to gradually pick the speed up in a very controlled manner. Using this tool, I have been able to up my overall SR and my times have improved. However, this has been achieved by deliberately slowing down first!! As I am now starting to add the speed work the Wetronome is helping to keep everything smooth and consistent - my goal for Windsor! ?
• Sorry to bang on about this, but really can't recommend Wetronomes highly enough. This simple device has really helped my swimming over the past few months. When I first got it, I was shocked by the advice on here from Paul at SwimSmooth that my stroke rate was far too low. However, after a few early hiccups, I kept working on my stroke at (very!) slow stroke rates of 38-40 while gradually upping the stroke rate over shorter distances. All of a sudden, things started to click and I am now able to swim at much higher SR while keeping my stroke technique in place. The real key to this has been the ability to use the Wetronome to ensure that I maintain a very smooth and regular stroke.

Post race feedback 2007

• I used the Wetronome during the Eton supersprint on Saturday. I set it at 50 SPM which a few weeks/months ago I would have thought impossible, but actually found this a little bit slow on the day!! PB for the swim, so the strategy worked and more importantly, I felt in great shape going into T1...so the whole plan worked...faster but more efficient swim, loads left in the tank!!?
• I had my first OW swim yesterday since bike crash at Windsor in XTT tri. Despite being very under-trained and unprepared the swim was my best bit. I decided to set my Wetronome on a relaxed 48 (compared with 50 at Windsor). I quickly set into a really nice rhythm. Sighting went well, I kept my stroke long, I was relaxed and actually really enjoying being out there. On several occasions, I felt that my SR was far too low. However, each time I came back to the WN beat, focusing on a long easy and streamlined stroke I started overtaking people. And it felt so easy! Focusing on a slower but tidier stroke with my head still plus good body roll meant that I quickly started to overtake people. A great feeling!!! In fact the swim went almost exactly as planned. I was very relaxed, I had a reasonable time I left the water with a steady HR and plenty in reserve for the bike/run and really enjoyed the swim. ?

Going long (-er) in 2008

• Quick 100m warm up and then straight into 1500m straight swim at 54 SPM. This is why I love the Wetronome...at 20 lengths I realised that SR was starting to drift so re-focused on keeping the catch in time with the beep. Very constant pacing throughout and result was 25:47! I then tried a quick 400m session at 56SPM to see what would happen. This felt surprisingly comfortable and I finished without being that puffed. What a great device! Tonight filled with me confidence that I can now swim a steady 1.9k at reasonable SR without knackering myself out. RESULT!! ?
• Great swim at Beaulieu Mid-Distance yesterday. Everything went exactly to plan - strong relaxed swim, plenty of breathing, stoke rate smack consistent on 55SPM, good time, steady heart rate, handled the biff well and swam very strongly on final leg. Paul, I set my WN on 55SPM as a compromise but in the end this was too slow. I could easily have swum 3-5SPM faster and not knackered myself out. So thanks for the recent help- it all came up trumps in the end.?

Final thoughts!

• After my trunks, the Wetronome is now the most important piece of kit in my swim bag. This simple device has transformed my performance and enjoyment levels over the past two years. I have used it as a diagnostic tool, a training partner and a race pacing device. Whenever my stroke goes ?awol?, my Wetronome allows me to slow everything down and re-focus on technique. I then use it to re-build my speed in a very controlled manner. I now pace 1.9k races at stroke rates that I felt were impossible for 100m drills only two years ago. This year, I have entered the water full of confidence in my pacing strategy, achieved personal bests and reached T1 with a good time, a steady heart rate and plenty of energy left for the bike and run! What more could a triathlete ask for??

---

If you have a similar story, we'd love to hear it! Cheers!