Archive for the ‘Brain Training’ Category

Replace Open Water Anxiety with a ‘Cocoon of Calm’
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on August 19th, 2011

Four strategies for building a ‘cocoon of calm’ in open water and three ways to calm and center yourself if ‘anxiety happens.’

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Swim Faster Artfully, not Physically
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on August 10th, 2011

An emphasis on smoother, quieter, more *precise* strokes (the opposite of what your instincts urge you to do) is revealed as the best way to improve your mile pace.

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How to Excel at Thinking (and consequently at Swimming)
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on July 2nd, 2011

Why did you do that set or drill? Why did you swim that distance? Or choose that interval? Asking such questions — and evaluating your choices after the fact — is essential to improvement. And to being ‘excellent at thinking.’

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LOVE THE PLATEAU (IF YOU WISH TO BREAK THROUGH)
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on May 9th, 2011

George Leonard wrote, “If our life is a good one . . . most of it will be spent on the plateau.” Therefore we should learn to value, enjoy — even love long stretches of diligent effort with no apparent progress.

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Secrets of Swim Speed Part 9: How to Swim Faster
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on May 2nd, 2011

How Nicholas Sterghos had the most-dramatic 2-year swimming improvement in triathlon history – while his West Point Tri team rose from 14th and 19th (men and women) to 2nd and 5th in College Triathlon Championships.

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Video: Secrets of Swimming Faster Part 8 of 9 – Conscious Practice
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on April 30th, 2011

Swimming efficiently in a race setting must begin with conscious, intentional practice organized around learning Balance and Streamline skills that don’t come naturally.

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Video: Secrets of Swimming Faster Part 5 of 9
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on April 24th, 2011

Training for Bigger Lungs or Muscles cannot solve the three Speed Problems that are as inevitable as death or taxes – Energy Waste, Resistance, and Age. Only Neural training can solve them.

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Stroke Length Practice: First Improve. Then Maintain.
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on April 22nd, 2011

Nearly every choice you make about planning practices and sets should be driven primarily by whether your repeats strengthen your ability to stay efficient at a range of distances, tempos or paces.

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Video: Secrets of Speed Part 2 of 9
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on April 17th, 2011

There is no payoff – and potentially enormous cost – from swimming hard in a triathlon. Therefore every thought and action should be directed at making ease and efficiency an unbreakable habit.

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A Brief History Part 5: Closing the Loop — Habits, Neurons and Swim Improvement
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on April 8th, 2011

Mindful Practice — consciously merging thought and movement – creates *observable change in the brain’s infrastructure*. This improves skill, endurance and speed far more dramatically than training the body alone.

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