TI Freestyle made easy : practical question

Just one drill first. master it first then when you master it move on to the next drill don't do all the three at the same time on your first.When mastered already you can do 200-300meters each drill I do 200 every time each drill.Regarding relaxing and being slow, isn't there any other time you can swim where it's not that congested? Doing drills with 6 people sharing the lane is just not right not unless you are all doing drills.My tip do a lot of skating drills this is your key to streamlined swimming.Good luck and hope this helps.

My daughter and I have just started TI. We completed lesson 1 in about an hour. Next time we plan on reviewing lessons 1 and then move on to lesson 2. I don't know how long the second lesson will take but the entire lesson 1 was pretty easy to complete in one session. I can't help you on the pool though I'm pretty lucky the pool I use never has more than 2-3 other people using it. The only problem with my pool is it is 35-40 minutes from my house. Good luck with TI.

I have the DVD and the book Triathlon Swimming Made Easy.  I actually like the book better than the DVD.  Although I think having both of them is the best.  The book and the DVD the lessons are slightly different.  Also, the book I take to the pool with me and when I need to refer back to something I just get out of the pool and find what I need in the book.

There's no "correct" way, it depends on how you learn and how you can best make the new learning stick.

I'd suggest taking 3 drills to the pool, but only moving on to the next lesson until you feel "comfortable" with the first one. That doesn't mean that you've mastered it...I still go to the pool and do superman glide and various skating & switching drills frequently. But don't move on until you feel and understand that the learning point of the first drill is being felt while you swim.

Some people will learn better by then taking the things learned from that drill and using that thought or focal point in full stroke swimming for short repeats. eg

Spend 15-30 minutes practicing and learnign the drill, THEN...
4 repetitions of 3-5 non breathing stroke full swimming. (ie, just swim a few strkes without taking a breath). Feel the drill in your full stroke swimming
4 repetitions of half length swimming (go ahead and take a breath or two, but only swim 1/2 the length of the pool)
2 x 25 swim. Rest after the first repetition and mentally rehearse the drill/swim combo, then swim the 2nd 25.

If at any point you feel things "fall apart", no worries, just take a step back and repeat the last thing you did that felt good. Sometimes this means going back and doing the drill for 5-10 minutes.

When you become aware of something bad happening with yoru stroke, just let the thought go and focus on whatever your current focal point or drill is. it's normal for something you recently "mastered" to fall apart when you add something else new. it will take time for 2 new things to both become natural. Until then just keep mental focus on one focus at a time.


As far as the pool crowding issue, you may be best to find and use the "kiddie" or play section of the pool. You don't need a whole 25 yd lane to do the vast majority of the drills or even practice full stroke swimming. The great thing about TI is that it gives you permission to "play" and practice instead of doing a "workout" and in the process become a better swimmer. When I let go of the idea that other people might thing what I was doing looked silly, I was free to drill/swim in any manner I wanted. I'm fortunate to have some pools that are not too crowded however at least at certain times.

Hope that helps.

Hi all,Thanks already for your remarks and tips. I'm planning to go to a recreational pool on Sunday, to practice the first few drills. It will be a lot less crowded normallyKind regards.