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Re: Terry Laughlin from Total Immersion in a fascinating debate on BT [saltman]
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holy shit.....I don't really subscribe to the TI methods, but this thread is hilarious.

So, a bunch of "triathletes" that can ride a 40K in 1:00 and run a 5K in 18:00, but cannot swim for shit think their limiter is fitness??

If you cannot swim a 1.5K in under 24 minutes you need SERIOUS help with technique.


Well...you don't use your arms in either a 40k bike or 5k so I'd have to say fitness and perfect technique wouldn't get you to a 24min swim..IMHO

Unless you have a swim technique that doesn't require you to move your arms?

The fact that you think it takes "fitness in your arms"....whatever that is, to swim a 24 minute 1500m shows you haven't a clue what you are talking about. BTW - a good 10 year old boy can swim that fast. It only takes fitness to swim a 1:40/100 if you are a shitty swimmer (based on technique). If you have reasonably sound technique 1:40/100 is a nice all-day cruise pace.....kind of like walking. I say this as a guy that considers himself to still be a shitty swimmer, but seem to come out near the FOP in the swim in most races. I am about a 1:05 40K TT and 21 minute 5K guy.

And I'll bet that you didn't learn to swim 2 years ago, coming from zero swim background.

This sort of generalization is common for experienced folks. I could make the same comment about cycling or running. A 21 5k for me is so slow that would be a joke for me to race at that speed. Even after a complete layoff for 3 months with zero workouts, it took me 3 workout of under 3 miles each to run under 21 for 5k.

Does that mean it doesn't take any fitness to run a 21 5k? No - it just means I have the background built up in my legs so doing it again is easy. It's so easy for me that I've done a sub-21 5k with a stroller pushing my kid just for fun. That still doesn't mean that because it's easy for me, it should be easy for everyone, and that it's all due to my special running technique. For me to get to this level, I had to train my *** off - sprints, volume, and more sprints. Hurt like hell and no shortcuts.

If your fastest 5k ever was a 30 (and there are many on BT who fall in this category), it'll take a hellacious amount of work to get down to 21.

To say that swimming a sub-24 1.5k is so easy that anyone can do it with zero swim fitness is a load of bull. Sub-24 is near, if not FOP in most Oly races, and likely a better performance than a 21min 5k in a lot of races.

I think you're confusing your natural gifts and/or ability with the reality of the situation. That's the same exact critique I have for Terry Laughlin - it might work for him, but I doubt it works for even a minority. FOP is not commonplace precisely because it takes a combination of technique, talent, and hard work. Or else everyone on BT would be FOP.
Last edited by: lightheir: May 19, 10 7:58

Edit Log:

  • Post edited by lightheir (Dawson Saddle) on May 19, 10 7:54
  • Post edited by lightheir (Dawson Saddle) on May 19, 10 7:57
  • Post edited by lightheir (Dawson Saddle) on May 19, 10 7:58