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Triathlon Swimming: Made EasyThe faster pace you maintain across the English Channel the better your chances of making it to France – and the less your chances of being caught in one of the Channel’s infamous tidal switches, which have frustrated the dreams of thousands of would-be Channel swimmers. But when you’ll swim for 12 or more hours, what does “speed” mean?
Archive for the ‘open water swimming’ Category
Speed “Happens” . . . while Focused on Efficiency
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 10th, 2010
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 10th, 2010
I hadn’t planned on a “quality” set today, but one sort of snuck up on me as the beep on my Tempo Trainer got faster . . . while I tried to keep my stroke unhurried and long.
Slower Strokes produce Faster Times. How so?
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 8th, 2010
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 8th, 2010
A slower stroke can produce faster times . . . IF you use the extra time in each stroke to propel more effectively – i.e. travel farther, and perhaps even faster.
An “Effortful” Practice Example: To swim the Channel FASTER.
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 6th, 2010
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 6th, 2010
Most of my practices are designed to imprint efficiency – to help me cross the English Channel more easily. This one was designed to improve pace-holding capacity – to help me cross the Channel faster . . . without sacrificing efficiency.
Stroke Counting Grows Brain Cells . . . which may be critical to swimming the Channel
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 3rd, 2010
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 3rd, 2010
It’s obvious that efficiency is critical to success in open water marathon swimming. So is being able to exert control over what and how you think for hours and hours. Stroke counting in the pool while training for an open water marathon may be the best way to improve both.
Day One of Marathon Season – Training Log Begins
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 2nd, 2010
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 2nd, 2010
First day of marathon training -Goal is to establish an efficient Stroke Length, then improve my ability to maintain that Stroke Length at gradually increasing Stroke Rates.
Kicking: Is Downbeat or Upbeat more important?
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 26th, 2009
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 26th, 2009
On one of the swimming web sites, I found this statement: “The strength of the kick comes on the downbeat. Very little propulsion, if any, is generated with the upbeat of the kick.” I am curious to know if I should even be trying to get propulsion on the upbeat, or return stroke of the kick. Any thoughts?
Why – and How – Should you Swim Easy?
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 19th, 2009
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 19th, 2009
Why you should make Ease a central goal of your swimming – and 12 specific ways to swim better through ease.
Sample #1 of “Practices that Grow Brain Cells”
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 18th, 2009
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 18th, 2009
Most distance and marathon swimmers believe the most important thing is to “get the yards in.” I believe there’s much unexplored potential in shorter, well-crafted practices that actually create more direct benefit than long grind-it-out sessions.
Free Air: How to Breathe Easier
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 16th, 2009
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on December 16th, 2009
If you feel breathless, or lose form when breathing, it’s hard to swim any distance without tiring. Here is a stepwise series of 5 “stroke thoughts” that will have you breathing easier in crawl.