I swam two marathons in 2002 and 2006. I swam two more in March and April of 2010. I now question whether I have the stuff – mentally, not physically, to swim more marathons in the future.
Archive for the ‘open water swimming’ Category
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on May 26th, 2010
How I experienced the “thrill” of nervous system adaptation in the precise moment it occurred during my first-ever practice using a Tempo Trainer to swim at precise Stroke Rates.
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on May 20th, 2010
There are four key metrics in swimming – Efficiency, Effort, Tempo and Time. Most people use only one. That limits improvement and increases potential for frustration. Expand your perspective and you have more opportunity to improve.
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on April 2nd, 2010
Yoga teachers regularly remind us to smile – and it works. My yoga improves when I smile. In recent months I’ve learned smiling improves my swimming too.
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on March 19th, 2010
Your potential in most things (but particularly swimming) is almost certainly far greater than you imagine it to be. If you strive for continuous improvement, you WILL improve continuously.
by Terry Laughlin
Posted on February 25th, 2010
The 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?
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.
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.
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.
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.

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