I think I can. . .

Today's goal, straight from the coach: "Stay focused, stay positive, and tell yourself that 'Today, I am faster than yesterday.' The power of positive self talk can not be underestimated."
I'm working on it.

warm-up (400m): reverse IM as kick/ swim/ pull/ swim.
minispeed (200m): 8x25 free on :45, descend 1-4 and 5-8.
test set: 15 minute swim. (900m)
easy (100m)
test set #2: 15 minute swim. (850m)
warm-down (550m): 200 back, 200 breast, 75 back, 75 breast.
===3000m

The first test swim, I couldn't see the timer, so paid no attention to pacing. The second test swim, I could see the timer, and worked really hard, especially in the final two thirds. So I'm not sure what happened, why it was 50m shorter.

By the end of the warm-down, I'm not sure I could have done another 50m. But it was important to me to get to 3000m today. I've been really craving the work.

Pool politics disclaimer: what follows has nothing to do with swim workouts. Well, maybe tangentially. . . but just barely.
Today we got there as the winter club coaches were removing the backstroke flags. We thought it was a kind of mistake, like they didn't know that it was now lane swim time, and that we'd need them. Oh no, they said, these flags belong to us, and they're starting to get a little ratty, so we're hanging them up, and we don't want anyone else using them. uh, wha? That's right, no one else can use them now. So we asked the pool manager, what's up? The flags belong to the club, they say. The pool's position is that flags are really expensive, and the pool can't afford them. For what it's worth, I offered to petition the "powers that be," or hold a fundraiser. It seems a little ridiculous, now that we actually have lane ropes being strung when we get to lane swimming, to not have backstroke flags. These are moments where my patience begins to escape me, and I just want to swim in a real pool, with real organizers and the basic equipment we need and not have to think about anyone else and the jobs they have to do. In my idealistic dreamworld, I show up for lane swim, pay the clerk, put on my suit, and jump in the water. No negotiating the basics. The ropes and flags would be there, part of what you get when it's lane swimming time.
Anyway, the great news? The guards have been fantastic lately. Especially given what they have to work with. They hung yellow caution ribbon from the flag hooks, just so we wouldn't smash our heads into the ends of the pool. And then they agreed to time our 15 minutes swims. Lovely people, the guards.