More on swimming....

[ChrisM]

the thread below re: technique got me to thinking that I need some work....

Bought a book yesterday called Total Immersion, Accdg to the author, your speed has 70 % to do with technique, and only 30 % strength (other interesting tidbits, a dolphin uses 1/8 of the energy that physiologists would expect given their speed, also to double your speed as a swimmer requires an eight fold increase in power). Lots of drill work, just started reading it, so we'll see.

Chris

 

[Dee]

That's a great book! When I was doing my DM work, I was really dreading the required times swims. I could swim, as in getting from one place to another and not drown, but my technique and methodology was pitiful. At the pool where I was practicing, I met a guy who was a competitive swimmer in college. He gave me a few basic pointers and suggested that book. I immediate cut my times in half and wasn't totally wiped out at the end. I ended up with the 2nd fastest times of all the DM candidates but more importantly, I had energy left to actually help someone if the swimming was in a rescue situation!

 

[Big-t-2538]

Bought a book yesterday called Total Immersion, Accdg to the author, your speed has 70 % to do with technique, and only 30 % strength ...... Lots of drill work

From what I understand, this is a great book for technique, which is the key to improving your swimming ability.

If you have questions, feel free to PM me or ask here, however, stating Sunday, I'm going to be out of town in Monterey, CA for 2 weeks, so I probably won't respond to anything during that time.

-T

 

[HammerNoMore]

the thread below re: technique got me to thinking that I need some work....

Bought a book yesterday called Total Immersion, Accdg to the author, your speed has 70 % to do with technique, and only 30 % strength (other interesting tidbits, a dolphin uses 1/8 of the energy that physiologists would expect given their speed, also to double your speed as a swimmer requires an eight fold increase in power). Lots of drill work, just started reading it, so we'll see.

Chris

I love Terry's book and often recomend it to new triathletes. It's a great way for new swimmers or swimmers with poor skills to learn to swim well. I don't recomend it for good swimmers looking for some tweaks. Terry takes a very different and very good approach to swimming but if you already know what you're doing, he'll have you "unlearn" everything and start over.

James

 

[ChrisM]

It's a great way for new swimmers or swimmers with poor skills to learn to swim well. I don't recomend it for good swimmers looking for some tweaks. Terry takes a very different and very good approach to swimming but if you already know what you're doing, he'll have you "unlearn" everything and start over.

James

Well, I guess we'll see then, since I have experience. By way of background, I was a competetive swimmer/water polo player in hi school/college (a long time ago), and have recently worked my way back up to regular 2000 yard workouts. My 400 time for the DM class was 6:10, and I just broke 6:00 last week during a workout. My 25 yard stroke count is about 16-18.

I skimmed the book in the book store and it seemed to say that it would work no matter your experience. Oh well, it's a good read nonetheless

Chris

 

[HammerNoMore]

Well, I guess we'll see then, since I have experience. By way of background, I was a competetive swimmer/water polo player in hi school/college (a long time ago), and have recently worked my way back up to regular 2000 yard workouts. My 400 time for the DM class was 6:10, and I just broke 6:00 last week during a workout. My 25 yard stroke count is about 16-18.

I skimmed the book in the book store and it seemed to say that it would work no matter your experience. Oh well, it's a good read nonetheless

Chris

My thoughts exactly when I read it. In reality you could probably knock some seconds off your time but not without slowing yourself down as you re-learn to swim. I didn't want to go that route myself. I'm still glad I read it and I learned a lot from it.

James

 

[Big-t-2538]

Chris -

In your situation, I would highly recommend drills that emphasize body roll, and over emphasize the "catch" part of the stroke. Those are two big keys in getting your body moving in the right direction with minimal effort. Once you feel pretty comforable with those, then you can work on keeping a "high elbow" during the power portion of the stroke (assuming we're talking about freestyle).

 

[Big-t-2538]

My thoughts exactly when I read it. In reality you could probably knock some seconds off your time but not without slowing yourself down as you re-learn to swim. I didn't want to go that route myself. I'm still glad I read it and I learned a lot from it.

James

You'd be surprised how many college sophmores and juniors "see the light" after un-learning many years of age-group swimming and spend a few weeks correcting their strokes.

the big issue with some of today's incoming college swimmers out of USS/YMCA programs is that they've been beaten to hell and back with high yardage workouts and have completely forgetten about technique. Anyone can design a 10k yard workout, but not everyone can teach the proper technique.

 

[ChrisM]

thanks guys.

I suppose my goal isn't to swim a certain distance faster at this point, but just to increase fitness level, tho I'd like to get involved with some competitive masters meets at some time. I do miss competition.

I just recal doing the stairmasters at our gym that over look the pool, and watching our gym advanced masters level class swimmers, and being amazed at how these swimmers - and all types, short, tall, heavy, skinny, - just looked like they were gliding effortlessly thru the pool with long slow strokes.

It's amazing to watch a really good swimmer.

It is hard, tho, to really slow down a workout and do these drills. Must be patient.....

Chris

 

[HammerNoMore]

the big issue with some of today's incoming college swimmers out of USS/YMCA programs is that they've been beaten to hell and back with high yardage workouts and have completely forgetten about technique. Anyone can design a 10k yard workout, but not everyone can teach the proper technique.

Oh, I agree, but for me I just don't need to see those kind of improvments. I only swim competativly in triathlons and swimmers don't win triathlons (at least in amature no-draft races). Weeks of drills to shave a minute off my mile time just isn't worth it to me. Now if a coach is in the same pool and says "your arm should be a little more here at this part of your stroke," I'll gladly accept the advice and give it a try. At this point I'd rather tweak than re-learn. Ideally it's best to start with fresh swimmers with no bad habits to break.

James