11 replies to this topic

[getfitfast]

Hi..

I'm a novice swimmer..still learning. Can swim up to 1km with fins & snorkel..and just about 50m without any aids..

Been learning for about 6 weeks..getting a little frustrated...

Has anyone done the Total Immersion programme? Is it beneficial and will I be able accelerate my swimming capability?

gff

Edited by getfitfast, 05 November 2009 - 07:59 AM.

[tiger angel]

I haven't done a program but used the book by myself for a while. The price of the course is fairly steep. A friend did the course and liked it BUT and it's a big but - we couldn't find any swimming groups around that actually practice it. I found that once I joined a squad I couldn't use this method and had to follow the coach's way.

[Wedged]

I have watched the video but haven't done the program. +1 for what tiger angel says. Very expensive and finding people to practice with is very tough. There are some interesting principles on this. I think there was a thread on Transitions about this.

http://forums.transi...php?showforum=5

[blkbox]

Try using this

[Didge]

 blkbox, on Nov 5 2009, 09:01 AM, said:

Try using this

That's a great site blkbox. I've been considering training for my first triathlon hopefully next year. I'm already ok with the running & the bike, but need bit of help with the swimming part - this looks like a good place to start.

[Fitnhealthy]

Has anyone actually bought the Learn to Swim DVD from the Swim Smooth site? I want to enter my first triathlon in March, but I am really struggling with the swimming, I have only ever swam 50m non stop once...

[Aunty K]

 getfitfast, on Nov 4 2009, 09:25 PM, said:

Hi..

I'm a novice swimmer..still learning. Can swim up to 1km with fins & snorkel..and just about 50m without any aids..

Been learning for about 6 weeks..getting a little frustrated...

Has anyone done the Total Immersion programme? Is it beneficial and will I be able accelerate my swimming capability?

gff

Hi gff,

I have done the half day Total Immersion course in North Sydney. The course was to give you a taste of the type of technique they use in their sessions. They also video each of the swimmers and critique you at the end of the session. I enjoyed the morning but I'm not sure that it really helped me out or maybe I didn't give it enough time ???

I know that they hold Total Immersion sessions at Cook & Philip pool in the city.

Hope this helps.

AK

[miners]

I've done a couple days' course, and found it to be of some use. I think its primary purpose isn't really for elite swimming but for taking the effort out of the swim stroke, and swimming experience for those that struggle with endurance swimming. May not be their exact philosophy, but I reckon that's where it would be of most benefit. Not to swim faster but to swim easier

there was a thread on CR about it a while back

[Ewoksta]

 getfitfast, on Nov 4 2009, 09:25 PM, said:

Hi..

I'm a novice swimmer..still learning. Can swim up to 1km with fins & snorkel..and just about 50m without any aids..

Been learning for about 6 weeks..getting a little frustrated...

Has anyone done the Total Immersion programme? Is it beneficial and will I be able accelerate my swimming capability?

gff

GFF,

Not sure about the programme but the way I improved my swimming was as follows:
- See a coach. They will have a look at your stroke and correct it slowly.
- Join a squad. Great motivation and company for longer swims,
- Swim at least 3 times a week. It doesn't have to be far but consistant, the more you are in the water the better your swim fitness will become, enabling you to swim longer,
- Slow down. You may be trying to swim too fast and getting tired quickly. Slow down, don't try and keep up with people. Do your own pace.
- possibly lose the snorkel. You can't use it in a race so why use it in training. A big part of swimming is learning to breath properly,
- breath out under water. This sounds funny but is imperitive to be able to get the air back in when you turn your head. You don't want to have to breath out and in while turning your head,
- BE PATIENT!!! It will come.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Andrew

[Buckey]

I think the discussion forums at the site below are fantastic - search through the forums there for swimming tips and techniques. They also have a lot of opinions about TI.

http://www.usms.org/

I also download a lot of youtube, there are plenty of clips of the stars and also training and technique. just search on thorpe, hacket, phelps. be aware of different techniques for sprinting or distance.

EVF seems important to understand.

Edited by Buckey, 05 November 2009 - 08:47 PM.

[getfitfast]

Hi all..

Thanks for all the feedback. I was just interested to see what experience there was out there. I asked my coach today about and he wasn't too convinced that a 2 day course at nearly $500 is going to do much...

I'll stick with my coach, and the Cantoo programme I joined today. Just on Cantoo..what a wonderful and welcoming group of people..throughly enjoyed my first class.

I'll also pick up some of the pointers about patients and dropping the snorkel...

Besides..I have the 1km Coles classic to contend in Feb so I will have to have killed the swimming issue by then!

[Hallac]

 getfitfast, on Nov 4 2009, 09:25 PM, said:

Hi..

I'm a novice swimmer..still learning. Can swim up to 1km with fins & snorkel..and just about 50m without any aids..

Been learning for about 6 weeks..getting a little frustrated...

Has anyone done the Total Immersion programme? Is it beneficial and will I be able accelerate my swimming capability?

gff

Yes, I did the 2 day course at North Sydney in March. To put it in context I'm a pom who has never swum much and decided I wanted to do a triathlon. I managed to get my swimming down to just over 30 minutes for 1km but after a couple of months effort couldn't get any faster.

The course was great because there were only 5 of us and the instructor is in the water with you all the time and ensuring your body position is correct etc etc. They video you above and below the water at the end of each of the 4 sessions and then analyse the video with you in the break between sessions.

For various reasons (cycling, running, time!) I didn't start swimming again until late August and within 6 weeks of swimming 2/3 times a week I'm now swimming 1km in under 27 minutes and targetting 25 minutes by the end of the year.

Still slow by normal standards, but a huge improvement that I couldn't do myself (even though I already had the book) and well worth the $550.

If you are serious about improving, I'd recommend it.

Andy