Flopping around in the water at the Y last year had me convinced that I was insane for even having thought I could do a triathlon. I remember getting to July (the tri was in October) and realizing that I couldn’t even do a lap in the pool without stopping.
Something had to happen. I got online and read the woes of other potential triathletes terrified of the water. A lot of them recommended Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin.
I’m all about self help books and goodness knows I needed it.
So I started reading it and it starts out talking about how great swimming is, makes you a badass, the author’s experiences, blah blah blah. All that’s great but I feel like there’s a little too much of that.
The man loves swimming, I get it 
Pretty much, I feel that the book could’ve been summarized in a lot fewer pages than it was. The techniques are great, however, so I still praise the book. Before reading this and applying the principles, swimming was exhausting! After, swimming laps takes less strokes and exertion. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still challenging, but I don’t feel like I’m fighting the water as much.
The book has drill recommendations to practice as well as a few pictures. However, the pictures aren’t that helpful (ie detailed) for me, but luckily the descriptions are pretty accurate. (There’s a DVD available which I’ll try to review at a later date). I actually only did maybe one or two of the drills.
Something that this book did not help me with is breathing. I really feel that the method in which you take breaths is a personal decision because I do mine totally different than most people I’ve talked to. Anyway, that’s just me.
You also won’t find instructions on a lot of different strokes. It mostly focuses on freestyle. I believe there are other books (by the same author) that focus on other strokes.
I also don’t follow all of the principles completely but I wouldn’t be where I am now without this book.The author also has a book for openwater swimming which I have in my possession but have yet to read. See a video about it below:
Here’s the website if anyone’s interested. I will keep ya’ll updated on the open water book.
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