Like many Americans, I became addicted to NBC's recent telecast of the Olympic Swimming Trials. Who could resist Michael Phelps' and Katie Hoff's winning sweep of five races apiece? Or, especially, Parkland resident Dara Torres' inspiring double victories in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle races? Torres lands on her fifth Olympic team at the age of 41. Finally, W. Hodding Carter's Off the Deep End (Algonquin; $21.95), about his quest to make the Olympic swim team at age 45, proved a delightful read. (Alas, he didn't make it but says he has his eye on 2012 now).

With all that watery ammo, this 45-year-old couldn't wait to dive in again.

But first I had to drive all around Miami in search of a traditional Speedo racing suit. Who knew they weren't that plentiful anymore? (No, not the new ultrafast and extra expensive $500 LZR ones or the long, tight ''jammers'' the kids wear). I also needed goggles to replicate the bug-eyed style I was used to all those years ago in the Cretaceous period when last I swam. OK, it wasn't quite that long ago but the strokes sure have changed. Now, there's something called ''front quadrant'' freestyle. (See details at www.windnseaswim.com/catchup2.html).

I chose the Olympic-size pool at Miami-Dade College's Kendall Campus because it's where I swam at college and it's open to the public. On my first night back I even ran into Tony, my former Hurricanes teammate in the early 1970s. He gathers with other like-minded swimmers three days a week to train.

I managed to swim 1,000 yards in the 25-yard pool. (That's 40 laps). Not bad for an old fish.

If you're similarly hooked on swimming, there are tricks to getting started.

Swimming can be boring when done solo. Miami-Dade's pool is a good site because it's easy to find others to pace off of and the lanes are spacious. Break the endless laps into smaller sets. On my return 1,000-yarder I began with a leisurely 200-yard warmup. Added a 200-individual medley (two laps each of the four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breastroke and freestyle). I swam five 100-yarders varying the pace (at this stage, slow to playing dead) and cooled down with a final 100-yard free.

The United States Masters Swimming website (www.usms.org) has numerous workouts posted by swimmers. Click on Discussion/Forums and then Workouts. It's a good source to help stave off boredom. There are individualized workouts designed for distance swimmers, sprinters, even some of world-record holder Janet Evans' old workouts.

Here's a sample workout:

• A 300-yard warmup.

• Drills: 8 x 75 yard swims (vary the strokes) and 8 x 25s. Go fast on the odd numbered laps, easy on the even numbered.

• Main set: 8 x 50 and 100-yard swim; 6 x 50s and 200 yard swim; 4 x 50s and 300 yard swim and 2 x 50s and 400 yard swim. Rest one minute after each distance.

• Cool down with a 200 swim for a total of 3,000 yards (120 laps).

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