Recent acquisition: Finis Tempo Trainer

 This is a very simple device that you can clip on to your goggle strap or tuck under your bathing cap.  You set the frequency of beeps with the up and down buttons (seconds:one-hundredths).  This is a great way to practice maintaining a constant Stroke Rate, timing every spearing of the hand to the beep.

There are many ways to use the device to increase efficiency in the water.  One drill consists of setting the TT to a comfortable, moderate rate.  You then swim a couple of laps to determine your base Strokes Per Length (SPL).  Next, you decrease the Stroke Rate (SR) in increments of 5 or 10 (pressing the right button).  Do another few laps, counting SPL.  Repeat this a total of five times keeping note of the change in SPL.  The slower SR forces you to spend more time gliding and maintaining proper balance and streamlining.  Next, gradually increase the SR back to your starting point, trying to maintain the same relaxation, ease, and stroke length that was achieved at the slowest of SR.  Most people should find that they can shave a couple of SPL off their original baseline.  Pretty cool, eh?

The Finis Tempo Trainer can be purchased online for about $35+tax.  I got mine from Amazon.ca for $40 all included, free shipping (arrived within 48 hours of ordering).

Video, finally!

I finally have a training buddy with whom to take turns filming, and here are some of the clips made recently at the Wilfred Laurier University pool in Waterloo.  We're still getting a hang of using the camera, so some of the shots are shaky or too close at first.

video #1
video #2
video #3
video #4
video #5
video #6

The first thing I noticed was that my left arm (breathing side) enters the water earlier and steeper than the right, and I appear to over-rotate to the left as a consequence. I'm now working on bilateral breathing to help achieve more symmetry in my stroke, as well as finding the "just enough" rotation. I thought I also might be too deep in the water, which would require me to roll further to breathe. Swimming closer to the surface has made a difference.

Second, I didn't realize how erratic my kick was. I've since been focused on pointing my toes more, keeping both legs drafting behind the body, and feeling the kick initiated more from the hips (I tend to bend at the knees, especially on the left side).

Recent acquisition: Panasonic DMC-TS1 Lumix waterproof camera

A great thing about TI swimming is the ability to self-coach.  Except for a one-day workshop in Montreal last May, I have relied on videos to learn the freestyle technique.  I have learned to focus on different parts of my body as I work on perfecting my form, and thus have made great strides.  A great tool which was used at the TI workshop was video recording both above and under water.  This allows one to see exactly where the problems are in the stroke, kick, rotation, alignment, etc.  I have been wanting to make a video of my swimming for a while now so that I can get that extra perspective, as well as ask for feedback from TI coaches online.

I was searching Craigslist the other day and came across an ad for a waterproof/shockproof camera with HD video recording: Panasonic's DMC-TS1 Lumix 12 mega pixel camera.  Click here for a review and specifications.

I am eager to try this out at the pool.  I suspect I will have to go early in the morning when it is not very busy and try to find a fellow swimmer to help out with the filming.  Stay tuned for exciting footage!

A Born Again Swimmer

I have always had a love-hate relationship with swimming.  I used to love swimming underwater from one end of the pool to the other, and the absolute sense of quiet and peacefulness down below.  On the other hand, I would almost always get a stitch in my side at some point, a mouth full of water, stinging eyes, etc.  Then there is the whole "getting wet" part, the harsh chlorine, the shriveled skin... and lets face it -- the typical community pool is not the cleanest place to immerse oneself in.

As a kid, I had swimming lessons during the summer months while on family vacation in Kennebunkport, Maine. I learned basic techniques for crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and floating on my back.  I think I was a pretty average swimmer, though I recall frequently getting that awful stitch in my side if I swam too hard.  I never did any racing.  I preferred being able to keep my head out of the water, favouring breast, side, and back strokes.

After we stopped going away during the summer, the lessons also stopped -- some time in my later teens.  I would swim recreationally with friends, and occasionally would do laps at a university pool.  I never had very good endurance; I would have to rest frequently between laps or else suffer that horrible stitch.

I joined the community recreational centre in my neighbourhood about a year and a half ago in order to use the gym for my workouts.  I noticed that my membership included use of the pool, and thought that it would be good to start swimming again to break up my work outs.  I decided to search online for swimming video lessons, and that's where I first came across Total Immersion.  I watched Terry's six part seminar on Youtube (Perpetual Motion Freestyle) where he explains the basics and philosophy of the technique, and looked at many video clips of him demonstrating various drills in the pool.  I was amazed at how efficient and effortless it looked (Watch this amazing clip of Shinji Takeuchi).  I found a copy of the original freestyle video and watched it several times.  I liked how it was all broken down into simple, progressive drills that I could master on my own.  I started on the first drills at the community pool in January 2010.

more to come...