Remembering a swim routine

I try to look for patterns.  Not a whole lot of patterning here but I'd shortcut it to:

w/u  3 x 150, 1 x 300 (remember total of 750 - not sure what L3 means... hard?  if so, move the 300 to the main set - w/u and w/d are always easy in my workouts, so always L1 assuming that's easy)

Main Set

1.   2X:

(1 X 250 20’’ pull

3 X 200 20’’ (L3)

2.  10 X 50 Descend

W/d

1 X 200

Total: 3150 yards

I agree with Chris - look for patterns.  That said, that example is tough.  

I see people that write it on a sheet of paper and stick it to the wall at the end of the pool.  That works fine if there aren't many in the lane with you.

x2.  I do mine in BIG BOLD PRINT because I feel kinda blind with my goggles on sometimes......

+1, except I use a brightly colored 3x5 notecard

Hmm... You have a 250 pull between each set of L3 swimming. It's not that bad.

3x150 (warmup); 300 swim. Then, the pattern goes like: [250 pull, 3x200 sw]x2. 10x50 sprints, cool down

This is a nightly routine for me. After the workout, to cross it out, flip the index card over and write on the back. I use a Red Fine tipped Sharpie.

I think I will try the ziplock bag idea.  A friend suggested writing it on a piece of surgical tape and wrapping it around my wrist.  Not sure the tape would survive all that water.  Is that a completely dumb idea?

bradaskins - 2012-12-19 11:33 AM Go low tech with plastic bag, index card and a marker 

Agreed.  The wrist idea may work, but sounds over complicated and I know I'd become preoccupied with checking to see whether it's still there/secure.  The card-in-a-bag route is easy and you leave it at the end of your lane and forget it while you are swimming.

Those rules are much more helpful, and much less entertaining, than the bike or triathlete rules.

Was thinking of both these as well. Go with more simple sets until you get the hang of it better.

I don't follow a specific plan, so by default end up following rule 16 very closely.  KISS approach.

Can you quantify "a LOT"?

A Plastic baggy or a small piece of paper stuck to my water bottle or even on the tile work for me. I've heard of people using their own little dry erase board too.

There maybe some wisdom to the idea I once read that if you have to write out your workout on a piece of paper-it is too complicated-food for thougt.

Write your workout on a piece of paper with pencil (pencil doesn't dissolve when wet). When you go to the pool, dip the paper in water and stick it to the side of the start block or similar. 

This (although I actually use pen and a sticky note usually).  I use to use a baggy to keep the note dry and then that just turned into too much work and just started to bring the paper.  I stick it to my water bottle after wetting it.  It's ok to get the paper wet...

This is off topic, but: The importance of kick sets is for reducing drag and improving body position, rather than propulsion, even for elite swimmers the kick contributes only 10-20% of propulsion.

Many people don't know how to kick, they kick from the knee, don't flex ankles, do wide kicks and do wacky kicks to the side, and I've even seen people do circular "kick" pushing water back with the foot.

For these swimmers their kick is counter productive, it is very energy consuming to kick wrong, both the kick itself and because of the drag it causes.

Once you get it right, as you say, it becomes second nature, you can drop lot of time and your legs will be fresh for the bike.