Reading the Pace Clock
In Aurora, our pace clocks have four arms – all of the same length, but each one is a different colour. Basically what you want to do is pick a colour that is easy for you to see, and use that one as your timing arm. Many people find it helpful to think of the pace clock as a pie that can be sliced into intervals. It is also exactly the same as a regular clock, with the 60 second mark (or 1 minute mark) being at the top of the clock, 15 seconds at the right side, 30 seconds at the bottom and 45 seconds at the left side.

Even Minute Intervals
An interval or pace that is an even minute (for example 1:00 or 2:00) are easy because all you have to notice is what colour arm was on top when you leave, and then this will be the spot that you leave at for each subsequent interval. So if you leave on a red top, and you are to go at the 1:00 mark, you will leave again the next time the red arm comes to the top (assuming that you came in before it went around one full rotation).

30 Second Intervals
When using pace times that are in 30 second increments (or 1:30, 2:30, etc.) you will always leave on one of two numbers. Those numbers will be directly across from one another on the pace clock. Again, you just need to notice when you left (i.e. red arm on top), and then you will leave the next time that arm is at the bottom. Subsequently the top, then the bottom, etc.

Intervals of either 20 or 40 seconds slice the pace clock into thirds. This means you will always leave on one of three numbers (20, 40 or 60). If your interval is 20 seconds (or 1:20, 2:20, etc.) you will always add 20 seconds (or a third of the pie/pace clock) to the clock to know when you will leave next time (so if you start your set on the red top and are going on 1:20, you will leave to start the second rep at the red 20, and then third at the red 40, etc…).

Intervals of either 15 or 45 seconds will split the clock into fourths. Intervals ending in 15 seconds (1:15, 2:15, etc.) will have send-off numbers rotating clockwise. Send-off times in 45 second intervals (:45, 1:45, etc.) will have send-off numbers that rotate counter clockwise.

Intervals of 10 seconds (1:10, 2:10, 3:10, etc.) and 50 seconds (:50, 1:50, 2:50, etc.) are easy. For 10 second intervals your next send-off always advance in a clockwise rotation. Send-offs for 50 second intervals always retract in a counterclockwise rotation.

Intervals of 5 seconds (1:05, 2:05, etc.) and 55 seconds (:55, 1:55, 2:55, etc.) will always advance and retract one number respectively.

*This material was taken from WSU, and can be viewed in it's original format at: http://www.wsumastersswimming.org/workouts/paceclock.html