Pace count beads or pacer beads as they are more often called, are to
help you keep track of how far you have traveled, usually at night.
By pulling down a bead every time you have walked 100 meters, and with
the way the beads are arranged you can keep track of 5000 meters traveled
and you “reset” the beads.
As you probably already know we all walk a little differently, not everyone
has the same stride. So for you to make the pacer beads work for you, you
have to get or figure out what your own pace is. You first have to find
a known distance of 100 meters, 100 yards will work but all maps are set
for meters and you will always be off if you use yards. So not sure how
far a 100 meters is, look for a local soccer field (from goal to goal should
be 100 meters, usually, but find out first).
Now that you have the known distance of 100 meters, start walking from
one end of the goal line to the other goal. Take “NORMAL” size steps and
count the number of steps it takes to get to the other end (goal), turn
around and do the same thing again. If you want to be sure you have really
good count do it one or two more times and remember the number of steps
it takes to walk the 100 meters. The number you get is your pace count
or number of steps you need to walk 100 meters.
Now that you have your pace count down you can start to use the pacer
beads. Now take and attach the pacer beads to either your clothing or field
harness, and pull all of the beads either up or down (your preference but
do it the same way all the time). At nighttime you will not usually be
able to tell how far you have gone. And if you are using a map and a compass
and are trying to get to a certain point then it is important to know how
far you have traveled.
So find the place you need to get to (in meters), get your compass heading
and start moving. Every time you reach 100 meters (by counting your steps)
you pull one of the beads from the bottom set of nine beads up (or down)
and start your pace count again. After you have all of the nine bottom
beads pulled up you will have traveled 900 meters, count your next 100
meters.
Now this time you pull up (or down) one of the four beads that are in
the top section, these beads represent 1000 meters traveled. You now pull
down the nine beads in the bottom section and start your count again, pulling
one bead in the bottom up each time you have gone 100 meters. Each time
you get all nine beads pulled up you go another 100 meters and pull one
of the top beads up. This will allow you to keep track of 5000 meters
that you have traveled.
Info By Dragonone
