Posts Tagged ‘swim for improvement’

What does “High Pain Threshold” Mean?
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on February 10th, 2010

High Pain Threshold – a combination of constructive thinking and reframing an unpleasant experience with positive associations. And why these are critical elements in my training to swim the English Channel.

Speed “Happens” . . . while Focused on Efficiency
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

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

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.

An “Effortless Endurance” Practice
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on February 3rd, 2010

This practice demonstrates how a well-tuned brain performs its function better as you add repetitions and distance – a situation in which the body tends to fatigue.

How Mindfulness Can Guarantee Improvement
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on January 2nd, 2010

Attention, self-perception, and even optimism are improvable skills that can be developed by targeted practice.

The Big Idea in Swimming for the Next Decade
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on January 1st, 2010

I predict: “How Swimming Changes Your Brain” will be the most important discovery of the coming decade. This post explains why.

Why – and How – Should you Swim Easy?
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

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.

How Far Should You Swim?
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on December 17th, 2009

Most swim workouts on the web or in magazines prescribe fixed and formulaic repeat sets. They probably won’t work for you! Here’s how to design a personalized improvement program.