The 4-Hour Body_ An Uncommon Guide to Ra - Timothy Ferriss [180]
“How far away is that house?” I asked the lifeguard on duty, pointing far down the beach at a red rooftop.
“Almost exactly a mile.”
“Great. Thanks.”
With that, I started walking and, 20 minutes later, stopped in front of the red roof. I put on my Kaiman goggles, took a few deep breaths, said, “Fuck it,” aloud, gave a sharp kiai-like yell, and got in the water.
I swam a mile alone in the ocean, pacing parallel to the beach, about 100 feet offshore. Alternating left and right breaths every third stroke, I entered a Zen-like state of almost supernatural confidence. It was odd.
I reached the lifeguard stand and passed it, continuing on another 200 yards or so, when I decided to get out of the water. There was no fatigue and no concern; I’d just proven my point. To myself. Walking up the sand, I have never been prouder or felt more alive. I looked around like a 21-year-old Mike Tyson after winning the heavyweight championship of the world. I was, for that moment, king of my universe. One of my deepest-seated lifelong insecurities was gone and would never return.
The elation was indescribable.
I encourage all of you, whether you want to overcome your fears or win the Ironman, to give TI training a test drive. It’s the first instruction that’s made sense to me and is 100% responsible for the fastest transformative experience I’ve ever had in the world of sports.
Enjoy.
Think it can’t be that easy? Here are just two before-and-after responses from testers who used the above guidelines. Get your goggles ready:
From Rocky:
… I tried this in the gym and in 2 days have gone from 2 laps to 25 laps. I was telling friends yesterday, that in my entire adult life if I had to pick 3 things that have held me in awe this would be amongst those three.
From Diego:
Tim,
… I had the biggest fear of water my entire life and finally stepped out of my comfort zone. Last month, just one (1) month ago, I was fighting water, trying to stay afloat. Definitely survival mode … I started learning [Total Immersion], read the TI book (it’s literally in pieces now since I’d take it to the pool and leave it at the end of my lane soaking water each time I’d reference it) and watched several videos. I continually practiced …
It’s been only a month … Last week I did a 1.5 mile swim in the pool nonstop …
Today I made it to a 2.5 mile swim and only stopped because the facility was closing. I’m graduating to open water now. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to perform in the Ironman, and my times, a month after learning, are below the cutoff times for the 2.4 mile swim.
Thank you so much! I hope to meet you some day.
Your friend in Florida,
Diego
TOOLS AND TRICKS
Total Immersion, Freestyle Made Easy, DVD (www.fourhourbody.com/immersion) This DVD was the reason I was able to completely overcome my fear of swimming, and actually learn to love it. In the span of less than 10 days, I went from a 2-length (2×20 yards/18.39 meters) maximum to swimming more than 40 lengths per workout in sets of 2 and 4.
Aqua Sphere Kaiman Goggles (www.fourhourbody.com/kaiman) These leak-proof goggles were the last pair standing after I tested everything under the sun. I have three pairs and swim with nothing else, whether indoor or in open water. My favorites have orange-tinted lenses.
Total Immersion Swimming Freestyle Demo by Shinji Takeuchi (www.fourhourbody.com/shinji) If you want to see how effortlessly and tirelessly someone can swim, look no further than this video demo.
Swimmers Guide (www.swimmersguide.com) Find all the public swimming facilities in your area, or in 167 countries. Never leave home without your goggles.
End of Chapter Notes
1. August 13, 2008.
2. Tip: once turning to bring your face out of the water, look for your hand. Stop your inhale when it passes your goggles and rotate back into your stroke.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF BABE RUTH
Only God can make a great hitter.
—Whitey Lockman, 60-year veteran player,