I just read her book and have started implementing the drills/technique. I can tell I used to be an elbow dropper. I knew I was slow but was never sore after swimming even after a mile and half open water swim. Last night I ran to the health club where we have a small 15 yard pool and spent half an hour doing various drills and just doing 30 yard sets focusing on form and gaining purchase on the water. I was much faster than I had been previously and at the end I my lats and delts were fatigued and today are sore. My turnover rate was much higher and I noticed bilateral breathing was much easier. Really excited to get in a longer pool and working up some endurance with proper form. I will start that when I can get back in the pool after surgery in late November. I won’t be able to run for a few months and will be limited on what I can do on the bike but will be able to swim as soon as the wounds are healed. Will be all pull work but that will help me focus on what is important. Until then I am riding and running as much as my hip allows.
if you want to start using TI in swimming.
and in saying this as I’m currently trying to undo the persons F-ed technique.
and reprogram them away from all the bad habits they learned over the 2 years they did it would drive u insane
similar to driving NASCAR with Sunday drivers in a small village
better getting instructions from YouTube and saving time effort and money
Here’s a case study. First IM swim, no formal swim instruction, wetsuit: 1:08. After TI camp and $500 poorer, following a year of countless focused 30-45 minute sessions, same course, 1:10. That said, I actually enjoyed the swim the second time, felt comfortable, only breathed every 4th stroke, and cut 15 minutes off the bike leg. A couple of racers from my gym who kill me in the pool finished behind me in both races. I’d do TI again but agree that the videos can do what the camp does if you’re diligent.
I CAN NOT BELIEVE that the folks at Total Immersion do not teach or emphasize the high elbow catch. Wow. What a difference it makes. Sheila T is right. By focusing on extending your lead arm as far as possible and leaving it there for a long slow “glide,” you cannot get your hand in position for a strong, high elbow catch. Also, if you’re constantly dropping your arm down, not only don’t you get any pull, but your in a bad position to start your recovery and, I suspect, also staying far less streamlined that you would otherwise be with a high elbow catch.
TI does a good job of teaching you to use your hips and to spear your recovery arm into the stroke. But leaving your lead hand out there while you glide is not free speed. It stops your momentum and prevents you from getting your arm in position for the high elbow catch. It’s almost as if they’ve left out half the stroke. You’re going to go a lot faster if you combine the hip thrust and spear with a high elbow underwater pull.