About this episode

This episode discusses the significant swim improvement of Alex W. through deliberate practice and specific drills.

Swim improvement is slow, frustrating, and worth every minute — and this episode is proof of that. Chris walks you through Alex W.’s amazing 2:35 to 1:52/100 threshold pace improvement in today’s episode: what wasn’t working, what Chris prescribed, and how Alex took the reins and put in the hard work. We track her development step by step: the front quadrant breakdown that was costing her propulsion, the drift toward her breathing side that threatened her open water navigation, the elbow angle problem that was limiting her pull power — and the specific drills that addressed each one. Along the way, Chris explains why triathlon is an energy cascade, what deliberate practice actually requires, and why more yardage without technique work has a ceiling that most swimmers hit much sooner than they expect. If your swim has been stuck at the same pace for longer than you'd like to admit, this is the episode to listen to twice. Links mentioned in this episode: Book a swim analysis with Chris: campfireendurance.com/swim-analysis Swim Smooth (methodology and drill references): swimsmooth.com Campfire Endurance coaching (spots opening July 2026): campfireendurance.com or email…

More episodes of The Infirmary | Fixing Broken Endurance Athletes

• Episode 50 Live from Bend Camp: David Tilbury-Davis on the Mindset and Habits Behind Long-Term Athletic Success · July 16, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Episode 49: How to Face Your Fear w/Sports Psychologist Simon Marshall · July 2, 2026 · 54 min

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