I am interested in knowing what swimming theory you use and why you use it. I hear much about Total Immersion and not just from this forum. I hear much about swimming high on the water slightly looking forward, and I hear much about people developing their own swimming theory best suited for them but using guidelines that help them maintain a technical stroke.
Given all these different theories, it is no wonder that swimmers new to the sport are confused as to whom to listen to.
I borrowed the TI book from a friend a year or so ago, and found several things I agreed with, but more that I didn’t. I am not close-minded, I just cannot find a reason to swim so low in the water with the head looking down. The rolling of the shoulders really concerned me and the fact that so much of the body is low-parallel to the water, this has to increase drag, especially on the shoulders. One thing I will say is most people who swim using TI have beautiful strokes. But, and there is a but, they just don’t swim fast. Maybe I have just been so isolated here on this island that I have not heard of any, but are there any Olympians using TI? Or, will the young-uns using it be our next generation?
There is a USMS club in Fort Worth who advocated TI. Sadly, now they are deconstructing all those methods because no matter what the workout and intensity, their swimmers’ speeds could never develop. I get to speak to many triathlete swimmers here every March. The Elite (professional) swimmers swim high on top of the water looking forward and they use hip rotation, not shoulder rolling. Many of the age-groupers in this event just don’t understand why they are not swimming faster using TI. Now, we all know that most of the triathletes who were swimmers first, and runners and bikers second, always fare better in the swim portion.
I have said this before and I will say it again, there is more than one way to swim. I swim higher on top of the water looking forward, about a yard or two and use hip rotation. The reason for this is picture a person throwing a rock that skims the lake. The rock is flying on top of the water and not in it, so it moves much faster until its momentum ceases. Now, I know people are not rocks, but the principle is founded. Swimming on top of the water generates power and the swimmer can truly feel it. I swim slightly “planed” outward and upward and skim over the water, not in it.
Nowadays, because I am older and carry more weight, I swim not quite as high on the water and this has evolved over the last ten years or so. So even though I started out swimming “high” on the water looking forward, my stroke has become my own personal one that suits me very well. I also want to mention that I am referring to only freestyle here even though with all of my backstroke days, I, again, swam rather “planed” upward because I could get more rotation on top of the water rather than “in” the water.
I am not trying to cause a brou-ha-ha. I am just curious about the swimming theories and why people select them. And after swimming with any specific theory, are you happy with it?
Donna
Former Member
However what I do endorse is anyone who is providing products and services to enhance the masters swimming experience and helping adults to be swimming for life. Terry is one of a handful of people who has dedicated his career to providing these programs and services. Just imagine how many more better swimmers we would have if we had 100 such people.
Well said! :applaud: Maybe we'd get more young boys in the pool or ocean too. Now, it would be even better if those 100 new folks were not accusing other dedicated swimming folk of suffering from "mass delusion and sickness." I think he should take that back.
Terry,
I want to tell you we all appreciate your passion for teaching swimming. Like Rob said, we need more coaches like you that are PASSIONATE about teaching good technique. I have seen programs that don't stress technique and yes they do seem to have more injuries. My only problem with your posts is how you respond to anyone questioning TI and some of your statements about shoulder injuries. I understand how it is when you passionately believe your way is the best way. You've been coaching for years and have seen what works for your athletes so you want to share it with others. :applaud: But, I think you need to be more objective some times and listen to other's opinions without taking it personally or as an afront to TI. Maybe you could learn something from us old swimmers too? Just my :2cents:
Well said, and in such a civil way. I think the song "My Way Or The Highway" is on my kid's ipod. That's where it should stay. :cool:
Your post illustrates why I just nominated you for "Best Swim Coach" on that award thread. :bow:
Rob,
Thank you for your insights. I wasn't aware that Joe was coached by Terry all along the way. I thought Joe was coached by Terry after he had become a rather great swimmer utilizing other coaches. But if this is so and I am mistaken, then cudos to Terry for developing a swimmer and taking him to the big leagues.
I truly believe that Terry wants to better his swimmers, thus the reason he is so dedicated.
But you are wrong, there are a lot of other people who have devoted their lives to bettering swimmers. They are not normally mentioned here because this apppears to be a Terry Laughlin Fan Club. What about Bill Stuart, what about Linda Gilchrist, what about the now deceased Ray and Zada Taft? Now maybe the difference is two of these people devoted over 50 years of their lives to the swimming world, but they are now no longer living and this may be considered the end of an era. And also the Rinconada Masters Coach who trained one of their swimmers and he swam the English Channel; this was about 3 years ago.
And even Don Easterling who produced Doug Russell is in his 80s now and still running swimming camps. He taught swimmers from early age group all the way through collegiate swimming; I believe it was in North Carolina. He also trained Dashelle Maines in breastroke. But he now lives back in Texas. And Don Easterling took me to the 68 Olympics, I have to mention this one more time and the last time, but I was an alternate and proud of it.
Maybe the difference is these people who devoted their lives and still do, are not popular anymore because they are old-timers and even though they produced elite swimmers, they have not produced any recently. Maybe this is the distinction. But there are people, and more than a handful, who are still giving of themselves to better people who enter the swimming world. It's just that their names are not mentioned on this forum because maybe it is a conflict with Terry's status. This is why I am mentioning them; there are a lot of people doing the same kind of good work that Terry is doing and deserve credit also. And someone coached Terry, it would be nice to see if any credit could be given to that person or persons.
I have thought about Randy and an open water swimming event here, but our triathlon is sanctioned by the ITC and any other open water swim would have to be separate from the triathlon. Seeing people go under 2 hours for the entire thing blows my mind, especially with our hills here. But I am trying to get interest for the 18 mile swim from Roatan to Utila, the one I will attempt in 2008. Randy might just be the fellow to contact for that one.
Thank you Rob for your words.
Donna
there are people, and more than a handful, who are still giving of themselves to better people who enter the swimming world.
I give up a lot to haul my kids to swim practices and meets and they better not get shoulder injuries or I will be really pissed. :yawn: They better also grow up to be better people than if they hadn't competed in endurance sports.
I am amazed, and grateful, that Terry sticks around here. I don't agree with everything he says, and he could probably offend less people by generalizing less about other coach's approaches, but he posts a lot of interesting and thought provoking stuff. If he gets a little defensive on occasion I think you only need to read what some people say about him to understand why. In any case, I encourage everyone to refrain from comments of a personal nature, there are plenty of interesting topics to discuss without needing to get personal, discuss the issues not the personalities and all that. :2cents:
Poolrat,
Our triathlon will be two distances; Olympic and Sprint. You can either swim the 1500K or the 750K. You can register online. Type in Bay Islands 2007 Triathlon and the website pops up. There is a race cap of 250.
This thread is evolving but I think it is so very important to all.
Donna
Can someone explain the theory behind descending sets?
Descending a set reinforces pacing and negative splitting. Also, you can address more than one energy system in the same set.
Gull,
That is a great set of few words to explain it. I wanted to also but was trying to not make it wordy.
But I will add one thing for Lindsay: I don't really start with a handicap, I usually start at about 75% and increase the effort for each of the swims, thus trying to maintain or negative split them. This is a wonderful tool; it helps a person to be able to swim their entire event at about the same speed all the way through it. Training this way may be that magic bullet we are all looking for; at least for me it is. Great aerobic training and usually on my last one, it starts to be anaerobic and I am in favor of both of these types of "systems" training.
Donna
At least someone gets the very narrow point I was trying to make.
:smooch: :smooch: :smooch: :smooch: :smooch:
Beth, check your pockets for a busines card! :rofl:
