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The Swim - Total Immersion vs High Elbow
A little background, despite being a fish as a kid and having been on some swim teams in middle school, I am really an adult onset swimmer. 2 years ago I was fortunate during Al Camp to have @Danielle Santucci comment to me on my stroke and how I didn't have a high elbow catch. I immersed myself in this concept, went to a local stroke specialist, and had a breakthrough swim at IMLP that year.
This past season I befriended and became friends with a guy named James. James and I swam virtually the same speed. We'd do pool workouts sharing a lane and OWS with a group together. Most times, he'd be about 2-3" / 100yds faster than me. That said, we'd also often be swimming the same speed which was great in the pool because I could alter my stroke and see the immediate impact of it. Generally speaking we'd be swimming long sets at a lo- mid 1:4x/100 yard pace and hard 100 sets at a lo-mid 1:3x pace.
At IM Lake Placid which we both did, I beat him by 2:56 in the swim.
James came over last night to check out the Vasa. He and his wife went up to New Paltz a few weeks ago and did a 1 day Total Immersion clinic. I know the concept as I once took lessons from a TI schooled teacher around 6 years ago. concept of arms on rails, straight arm, pulling down, etc. James told me he just came out of the pool where he did a short wko of 1800 yds. He was swimming hi 1:20s for 100s and his longer set was mid 1:30s. That's a big improvement in a short time.
on the Vasa, in my first 100, I typically am pulling around 50 watts(drifts down to high 30s by end of a 3000 meter wko). James got on it and was pulling 70-80 watts..
so, the question is... Abandon the pursuit of high elbow catch and take a TI lesson course? or keep the faith and just keep working on the high elbow?
as an addendum, I am having a PRP (Platelet injection) to my left Biceps tendon where I have tendinosis for a few years in later January, and will not be able to even start back up on the vasa or pool until around mid march.
This past season I befriended and became friends with a guy named James. James and I swam virtually the same speed. We'd do pool workouts sharing a lane and OWS with a group together. Most times, he'd be about 2-3" / 100yds faster than me. That said, we'd also often be swimming the same speed which was great in the pool because I could alter my stroke and see the immediate impact of it. Generally speaking we'd be swimming long sets at a lo- mid 1:4x/100 yard pace and hard 100 sets at a lo-mid 1:3x pace.
At IM Lake Placid which we both did, I beat him by 2:56 in the swim.
James came over last night to check out the Vasa. He and his wife went up to New Paltz a few weeks ago and did a 1 day Total Immersion clinic. I know the concept as I once took lessons from a TI schooled teacher around 6 years ago. concept of arms on rails, straight arm, pulling down, etc. James told me he just came out of the pool where he did a short wko of 1800 yds. He was swimming hi 1:20s for 100s and his longer set was mid 1:30s. That's a big improvement in a short time.
on the Vasa, in my first 100, I typically am pulling around 50 watts(drifts down to high 30s by end of a 3000 meter wko). James got on it and was pulling 70-80 watts..
so, the question is... Abandon the pursuit of high elbow catch and take a TI lesson course? or keep the faith and just keep working on the high elbow?
as an addendum, I am having a PRP (Platelet injection) to my left Biceps tendon where I have tendinosis for a few years in later January, and will not be able to even start back up on the vasa or pool until around mid march.
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Although the Vasa power difference is intriguing ... other factors could be at play. A good test would be for him to use the high-elbow on Vasa and see if that reduced power
James may have benefited from a lowered head position, higher hips, and overall improved balance/rotation
@Scott Dinhofer I am forever on the hunt for improving technique. I listen to Tower 26 podcasts and recently Taron picked up an important topic that Jerry Rodriguez talks about - taughtness. The very things that Paul referenced. Wondering if your friend James has incorporated the 'taughtness' and not swimming like a banana as Jerry would say.
Check out this video:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tower+26+swim+technique&view=detail&mid=512866D72FED64F31D12512866D72FED64F31D12&FORM=VIRE
my friend and I typically maxed out at a low 1:30s/ 1:29ish fastest 100. He just reported having swam a "few 100s and a 200 at 1:29"
I on the other hand have gone all in on the Vasa... will be interesting to see how this works out at LP..