Comments on: How Far Should You Swim?

By: Terry Laughlin

Terry Laughlin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:29:20 +0000

Mark The key to healthful swimming is to extend the distance you can swim without stress or distress. Adjusting your rest breaks are one way, but ultimately the only dependable way is to improve your efficiency. I can give you a quick hint here, which is that the most dramatic impact will come from reducing drag or water resistance. It makes a far bigger difference, and has a far lower energy cost, than increasing propulsion.
That’s why our Easy Freestyle DVD teaches balance, alignment, rotation, etc before it gives much focus to the pull and kick.

By: mark

mark — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:34:26 +0000

Terry:
My chiropractor recomended that i look at your information. I have a bad back (herinated disc) I want to use swimming as a cardio replacement to help me loose a few lbs…I would be a new swimmer and usually only swim 25m before i need to stop and catch my breath. What do you suggest? Is it total time, or laps that i should try to focus on, and are extended breaks ok? Thank you for the information.

By: Terry Laughlin

Terry Laughlin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:21:36 +0000

Kevin, We’re on the same track. Read my two latest blogs about speed “happening” and pain threshold.

By: Terry Laughlin

Terry Laughlin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:19:48 +0000

Laurie. Like you I’ve stopped swimming with Masters groups (though I love swimming with like-minded partners in open water). I found that the WORKOUT goals of Masters coaches and groups had grown too far out of alignment with my PRACTICE goals.

By: Laurie Kelly

Laurie Kelly — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:33:49 +0000

Terry, a very insightful post as always. This very concept is why I avoid masters swimming groups and “coached” group swim workouts in general. I’m the only one that can sense my “mojo” and its counterproductive to have someone pushing me to exhaustion – and hence, reinforcing “struggle”. Interestingly, as I’ve been in offseason training for triathlon, I’ve cut down my swimming to just one day a week, in the pool (open water season doesn’t start here in Colorado till May). And I’ve noticed that my technique, speed, and endurance have dramatically improved over how I was swimming last summer, when I was doing two pool sessions and one open water session every week. For me (TI swimmer since 2005) it seems that quality vs. quantity definitely holds true.

By: Veronica Riley

Veronica Riley — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:38:52 +0000

This is really useful, this new idea of mojo and one swim thought but ……Help! I swim in an Endless Pool. I don’t have lengths to complete. When should I start asking more of myself, how do I measure achievement?
63 year old English recreational swimmer

By: John Ashley

John Ashley — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:36:55 +0000

My swimming is improving each week, especially Freestyle. I’m doing 3km in my lunch break (1 hour). A good improvement considering 200M would have turned me blue and gasping a few years ago (though only allowing myself to improve by 1/3% each day). Swimming laps is never boring as there is a lot of technique and form to systematically improve. Breathing used to be uncomfortable and short, but now I forget about breathing and feel comfortable — mostly. I’ved used TI DVDs and books, analytical thought processes, KAIZAN and lots of revision. I asked a guy in the next lane if he was racing me, he said “yes, but I can only stay next to me for one lap – you just keep going.” Thanks TI and thanks Terry.

By: Kevin Milam

Kevin Milam — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:02:01 +0000

The “mojo” idea is good, but if one is training to race I think it’s important to be able to concentrate and maintain form when your mojo starts to be harder to hang onto. There comes a point in most every race where fatigue starts to eat away at technique and speed. So sure, I generally do as you suggest Terry, and do so as a general rule, but when my form, the stroke-element I’m working on, and by extension my speed starts to degenerate I try to push through the fatigue. I don’t try to push “harder”, but try to maintain form and “slipperiness”. When I start to lose the battle of technique vs. fatigue I stop.

By: Dean

Dean — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:02:57 +0000

I really like this approach to swimming and I have seen great improvement in my “skill” level and ease of swimming by utilizing this technique. It seems that once you “isolate” a specific swim thought and work on it (while you are rested) it results in what I call breakthroughs where your drag decreases and you swim faster with greater efficiency and even less effort for example.
This is trial and error process as not all swim thoughts lead to improvements, this is where sticking with TI as a foundation and and experimenting with different stroke thoughts within the TI structure will eventually lead you to breakthroughs and have you swimming better than you ever thought possible.

To adopt this technique, you have to let go of the notion that you must swim a mile without stopping, and instead find enjoyment from learning and waiting for those breakthroughs which allow you to find greater efficiency and ease in the water.

By: TSwain

TSwain — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:21:36 +0000

There is obviously a lot to learn. There are some good points here.