MelissaTexTri,

Your not alone, we all get bored from all those mind numbing laps. You should try to mix it up with different interval or ladder sets, vary the speeds, distances, and even strokes. Do you do kick sets, pull sets, or any fast 25's, these can all be a good break from the norm and will train the fast twitch muscles fibers as well as your anaerobic system, which increase endurance at race pace. Good luck, let me know you would like me to send you some sample sets, there are too many to list here, I have over 20 years experience, so I have a few that will keep you going I think, and may even get you a PR. Check out my post in Ocean Swim for tips on navigating the open water starts and swims.

-Anthony

Sure, I would love to. I have been busy with home projects lately, so I haven't got anything together for you. Please let me know if you have a race coming up(when and where), along with some of your swimming splits(100m), and any specific goals you have related to times or distance, and that should help me help you a little more efficient. You can also let me know if you struggle with a particular part of your stroke, I can give you some form work sets to improve there as well.

-Anthony

All,

I have put together a spreadsheet of some key workouts for a few members. Please let me know if you are interested, I can forward them to you.

Anthony

When lap swimming, I'm constantly focusing on my swimming form. Using the techniques described in the book, Total Immersion as a starting point, I evaluate each stroke and ask myself how it feels. If something feels like it's making me more hydrodynamic, I concentrate on maintaining it. If I don't feel like I'm gliding through the water, I analyze what I could do to improve.

Before reading Total Immersion, I'd alternate 200-yard Individual Medleys (50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 breastroke, 50 freestyle) with 200-yard sets of lifesaving strokes (50 sidestroke, 50 inverted sidestroke, 50 lifesaving breastroke, 50 lifesaving front crawl). I did the lifesaving strokes at the pace I'd do if I were hurrying to rescue someone.

Melissa,

You need to get a SWIMP3 from Finis. Check out http://www.finisinc.com/products-swimp3v2.shtml. Its an MP3 player that really works underwater while swimming. It works through bone conduction, and sounds much better than you'd think. I wear ear plugs to keep out the swishing sound of the water.

I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but this thing was life changing for me. I've been training for an Ironman, doing a lot of long swims. This cuts down on a lot of the drudgery of lap swimming. Actually look forward to it.

Greg