Total Immersion

[andygates]

Total Immersion is a bit of a triathlon cult - it's a swim style that is supposed to be super-efficient and save your legs, which is clearly attractive if you're using those legs for other stuff shortly afterwards. I've seen TI lying around at Elaine's and heavily recommended by the folk at tritalk.co.uk, and hell, any style is good for a sinking eggbeater like me, so praise the interweb for doling out a copy of the Bok second-hand for a few quid. Mooching through the introductory guff, I like the approach.

I really enjoy watching good swimmers. I love the efficiency of the movements - watching Sam breaststroke underwater is particularly pleasing. It sets off all my biomechanical kinetic sculpture aesthetic buttons and maketh me smile. So I'm please to see that the author's interested in producing an efficient, easy, beautiful, mindful stroke - he even compares it to T'ai chi as a moving meditation. Mind you, I was a terribly slow T'ai chi learner and got frustrated a lot, but the ticking clock is a powerful training aid.

Of course, the weather has seen me packing my spanky new wetsuit and turned to teenager-devouring gales. Don't know who I feel more sorry for: the kid, or the rescue people who could only watch him drown. Let's not be taking the sea for granted, neh?

Comments

[arabis.livejournal.com]

Talking about changing styles of things... Have you come across Chi Running at all? I bought the current Runner's World on the strength of a 'how to make running seem effortless' line on the front and the related article is about Chi Running - which seems to be about applying T'ai chi methods to running (so your TI comments made me think of it). Just wondered if you (or any other running types out there) had tried it? If it really does make running effortless then I want to know!

Hope the TI stuff works out for you. I'll be interested to know how you get on.

[(Anonymous)]

I've heard people rave about Chi Running, but not anyone I've met in person. I took a bunch of stuff from Gordon Pirie's ebook (http://www.geocities.com/jsgilbody/Gordon_book_040104.pdf) and applied some of it to my very ploddy running style. Since all the spring has been knocked out of my shoes now, I'll probably be applying more!

[arabis.livejournal.com]

Thanks - will check it out

Chi-what?

[skean.livejournal.com]

Hmm. The inante sceptic in me balks somewhat at lines like "Finish a pain-free marathon". No pain no gain! Grrr!

More seriously, it promises a lot on that website. I can understand how developing the right mental attitude can have an extremely positive effect, and some of the principles about core muscles being important in running, I absoutley agree with. It seems to indicate that they suggest a different position for running - a lean forward one? I think Xeeny and I were talking about that a few years ago, and there are 2 schools of thought on it, both with medical support. If thats the sort of approach Chirunning is taking, then it might be worth a look. I personally seem to get on better with a more upright stance, but I would always go with whatever is comfortable for you.

The style on the website put me off a little. It seemed just a bit too good to be true. At the end of the day, running is hard work - yes, it gets more comfortable when your legs are more accustomed to it, and your cardiovascular system gears up. Mentally, it can be relaxing. Physically, it can be "relaxing" as in its great to use your body, stretch out the kinks, feel like you've exerted yourself. But saying it "rests" your legs I don't believe - your are using them, working the muscles and powering that ADP/ATP thing.

Re: Chi-what?

[arabis.livejournal.com]

There's a copy of the Sam Murphy article in Runner's World here

I was partly interested because I find running very hard. Most of the advice I've been given is to run more upright and try to get my leading leg further out in front of me, wheras this does seem to suggest that a leaning forward posture is more natural.

I'm a bit put off by the website too. It does look like your typical 'this will change your life' spiel with rave reviews from satisfied customers. Hence me wanting to get some real reviews from real people!

Re: Chi-what?

[(Anonymous)]

You might benefit from Pirie's approach too, then. He puts emphasis on smaller strides though IIRC he suggests you run hips-forward rather than breastbone-forward. Worth the bandwidth, at least.

These special technique sites do all have that slightly-creepy evangelical edge to them, don't they?

Re: Chi-what?

[arabis.livejournal.com]

These special technique sites do all have that slightly-creepy evangelical edge to them, don't they?

Yes. I particularly like the I had offered him advice, but sadly he disregarded it, and tragically paid for it with his life bits in the Pirie book (on not running while sick/with raised pulse etc).

So, both Chi Running and Pirie seem to go for striking the ground with the foot under the body rather than forwards. CR goes for striking the ground with mid-foot and Piri the forefoot. CR goes for leaning forward from the heels and Pirie for being upright. CR wants to sell me a book/DVD and Pirie I can download for free. Hmmm, which shall I try first I wonder...

TI

[skean.livejournal.com]

So whats the principle of TI then? Not using your legs when freestyling?

Re: TI

[(Anonymous)]

It focuses on cutting resistance more than maximising power. Body-rolling, long reach, doing the work in the front quadrant rather than the back and something I haven't got to yet called "swimming downhill". The tri-babies like it because it doesn't use your legs as much - I think it uses a hip-kick that whips your legs, rather than muscling around.

Since I haven't finished the book and can barely swim at all, I'm not really in a position to comment! But the beach-cam shows calmish seas so maybe later...

Re: TI

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

You mean like the way I swim, you mean?

And anyone else who swims distance?

Watch the Olympic swimmers. A lot of them hardly seem to use their legs at all.

Re: TI

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

Not that I've swum distance in years, but I used to.

Re: TI

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Yep, exactly. And how to do it, and drills and the like.