Total Immersion Results
 

I've seen that many people are believers in the Total Immersion swim program and that many people have followed the program. I see that many people claim to have improved, but I'm curious to see some actual numbers. Does anyone have a swim time from before TI and after?

I'm a professional coach and I have seen beginner (27+ min 1500) to intermediate swimmers (~22-26 min 1500) improve by 10% or more and advanced swimmers (under 22 for 1500) improve by 1-2%.

Total Immersion is not the end-all-be-all of swim technique, but it is hard to argue with physics. One of my clients got a side view video ot Ian horpe at the lasy Olympics and it was amazing how closely he followed the TI principles.

Good luck,

Ken (another Hokie)
www.Fitness-Concepts.com

what is total immersion, I'm not asking for the exact plan. But a sketch of what it does more than other things out there.

Total Immersion focuses on reducing drag instead of focusing more on stroke. You start by learning balance in the water and move to other drills that help you be more "slippery" in the water and swim more "fishlike." Try www.totalimmersion.net

I have been swimming laps for years. I have never been a competive swimmer (other than elementary school). My fastest time for 1500yrds prior to TI was 29:20.
I started with TI in February. I swam 1500 yrds about 2 months ago - not swimming for time - just swimming - and did it in 25:10. That 29:20 time was my all out effort. I mean I was dead after swimming that 1500. The 25:10 time was me swimming harder than a warm up but nowhere near my hardest effort. After doing the 25:10 I went on and did 1000yrds of add'l swimming. Prior to TI it took me 25-27 strokes to swim 25 yrds - it now is 14 -17 strokes.

I learned TI by reading the Triathlon Swimming Made Easy Book and studying the Freestyle Made Easy DVD. So, being self-taught I know I am not perfect. So, I took a one-on-one single lesson from a TI coach. He was a great help and I have a number of things to work on. So, I know my times will improve from where they are.

Case in point: the day after my TI personal lesson I did a sprint tri that was a 300yard swim in a pool. The few weeks before the tri I did a few 300s and timed myself. They varied from 4:40 - 4:50. At the tri I was in a lane with two other people: a former college swimmer who said she'd swim it in about 3:40 and a young shaved down fit guy that said he would swim it in exactly 4:30. So, we left in that order (in other words I left about 5 seconds after the start of my heat). During the swim I decided to focus on two things the TI coach told me. I kept on bumping into the guy in front of me. I was thinking "4:30 my ass." I wasn't able to pass due to the other swimmer often swimming towards us. I passed the guy at the turn going into the final length. I looked at my time: 4:22. About 20 seconds faster than I had previously swam the 300 and this with me starting 5 seconds late and being stuck behind the guy in front of me (who finished right at 4:30). So, TI does help speed. I highly recommend it. If you can find a TI coach - its a help.

Thanks for the helpful replies. I am such a slow swimmer, and I have realized that most of my slowness is probably due to bad form. I think I will try following the book until I can find a TI coach for a lesson or two.

My 2 cents...the DVD is much better than the book. I loved the book but the DVD helped much more. I was fortunate enough to have a TI coach about a mile from my house (it took me a year to figure this out). The lessons have taken me to a whole new level (sorry I don't have any reliable numbers to relay). I am still not a fast swimmer but my times have improved and my level of exhaustion has dramatically decreased. TI may not help someone with a competitive swimming background but it has been a miracle worker for those of us accustomed to thrashing about for 40 minutes in a half IM.

Use a coach with access to underwater video analysis. It makes a huge difference!

If you ever get up to Northern Virginia, just outside of DC, Fitness Concepts has a staff full of highly qualified coaches www.Fitness-Concepts.com We will travel to those willing to organize a clinic.

Good luck, Ken

I agree with the underwater video analysis. My coach looked at my swimming frame by frame and was able to make adjustments. Big help.