breathing

Boyerdavea · Feb 9, 2008

I am working on my breathing. I can only swim about 100 meters breathing every 3 strokes. After that I have to breathe every 2 strokes. What sucks is then I am only breathing on one side. Would much rather be able to breathe both sides. I do sometimes switch sides. What is the best way to improve this deficiency? I am definitely faster when breathing every 3 vs ever other stroke, so I would much rather keep breathing every third stroke. Changing my breathing every lap really throws off my number of strokes / lap. Any suggestions?

TriBob · Feb 9, 2008

Slow down. work on technique. When you are more efficient you will need less oxygen to go the same speed.

Tithers · Feb 9, 2008

Dave...I had the same problem...then the light bulb went off. 
CS and I do the same pattern...he's speedy. 
Ok: 
3 strokes breathe(right), 2 strokes breathe (right) then 3 strokes breathe(left) 2 strokes breathe (left)...REPEAT. I could go forever. 
I used to get bad headaches from lack of o2.

bcc594 · Feb 9, 2008

Take breaks when you feel that you are running out of breath. It would be better to do 10x100 breathing every 3 strokes than 100 @3 strokes, and then 900m breathing every 2. Intervals will extend the length that you can keep good form.

Stitcher · Feb 9, 2008

Yup..... 
This is good. 
Combo of both. 
I do this when I get tired.......or when someone splashes me and I get water down my gullet instead of air (this is an uncomfortable feeling).... 
or whenever.

Silly Sally · Feb 9, 2008

I agree. And once you find that comfortable rhythm where you can do bilateral breathing, you'll never lose it ... You'll get there sooner than you think. I had the same problem when I started swimming. 
Sally <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

TheProFromDover · Feb 9, 2008

I worked for a long time on breathing. Left is still Good Side (GS), but I can breathe any way I want, 4 left, 4 right, bilateral, 2 left, 2 right (Bad Side (BS), or any mix. 
One thing I would recommend is breathing on your BS, every 2. You generally not only breathe badly on your BS, but your stroke is deficient too. Swim 6 or 8 breathing on 2 GS, then 6 or 8 on 2 BS (you need to BB once to switch). Pay attention to your stroke and the differences, how you turn your head, how far, how your recovery arm enters the water, how you begin to pull, just everything. Also swim multiple laps breathing every 2 BS. You will get used to it. This will allow you to extend your BB to Steady State (SS) swimming. Once you can do that, you can practice switching from one to another as the need arises.

Kybear · Feb 9, 2008

When I went from same side to alternating I had the same problem. I did what tri-bob suggested, slow down and go smoother. Even slowing down, you should gain some back by getting 2 full strokes in between breaths, which helps your form, line, etc. My form improved drastically when I started alternating and the longer distances instantly became easier, not harder as I expected.

RunningForT3 · Feb 9, 2008

Dave, how many stroke/length are you doing? 
I had the same issue with the breathing, at the time when I was doing around 30spl. Now that I'm down to around 20, I don't have that issue any more. It could happen in a very long swim, or when going very fast, that I need to breath every 2 strokes for a few times. But generally, I think that lengthening my stroke has both put me in a more relaxed rhythm... and there's also a shorter time between 4 strokes.

Tri_coach06 · Feb 9, 2008

I would suggest some hypoxic sets. 
2x50 breath every 3rd stroke. 30 seconds rest. 
2x50 breath every 6th stroke. 45 seconds rest. 
2x50 breath every 4th stroke. 35 seconds rest. 
2x50 breath every 5th stroke. 45 seconds rest. 
2x50 breath every 3rd stroke. 30 seconds rest. 
2x50 breath every 7th stroke. 45 seconds rest 
You can lower the amounts of the sets to 1x50 if you don't have the time to do all 600. 
This is a pretty tough workout, but you can really gain a lot from it. Do it as a WU or after your MS. 
CS

Tithers · Feb 9, 2008

Is this a super-secret breathing workout you're not giving me b/c you want to beat me out of the h20 at GCT? Bah swimbug!

Tri_coach06 · Feb 9, 2008

You can't do EVERYTHING. How much do you want to swim? Your already doing 3500 3x/wk. BTW, you told e you have a good breathing pattern. Have you started breathing out while you face is in the water yet? 
CS

Tithers · Feb 9, 2008

Yes...and it bothers Tithers. It's very noisy to do that. I've been trying. I start blowing bubbles. Then I hear a loud sound from bubbles. Then I flip out and start doing what I did before. Then I remember that sheldon thinks I'm an oddball...then I try it his way... 
Does anyone else think breathing out underwater is uncomfortably loud?

kylemcm · Feb 9, 2008

Sheldon has taught me to breathe like Kevin Coster in that Waterworld movie. He hasn't taught you that trick yet?

Tithers · Feb 9, 2008

HE obviously favors giving you super secrets over me. How much extra do you pay him for secrets? 
Oh, my swims are longer now...Sheldon finally checked his math and figured out that maybe I should get a crackin' on IMLP training. 
I did well on my swim this morning...but had honor chorus rehearsal after school...got home 30 minutes ago. Supposed to bike...but that's not gonna happen. 
I guess I'm going on Double Secret Probabtion.

Stitcher · Feb 10, 2008

Not uncomfortably loud for me.... 
it's a comforting, settling sound for me. 
I use it to judge effort..... 
and to help focus myself. 
I like the "woosh woosh" sound.....the faster I go, the more fun the woosh woosh. 
When I"m swimming easy, I'm blowing easy....mouth and nose equally....big one right before taking a breath. When I"m getting tired, ...on a longer set, or in a longer race...I can use it to help me "push" through the edge of hurt to stay rhythmic.

Boyerdavea · Feb 10, 2008

I am at 23 or 24 pretty consistently at 25 meters. 
Thanks for the advice. I will give it a shot. 
Tithers - That sounds interesting. I will have to try that. I would probably forget where I am at. I am still concentrating on my stroke, it is not coming naturally yet. 
Ouch! That sound like it would be pretty tough. Especially the every 7th stroke. I will give it a shot this week and see how it goes. 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I will report back at the end of the week and let you all know how it goes.

pcsronbo · Feb 10, 2008

This implies you've got some room to improve on your form (ok, who doesn't?). What is translates to is a lot of wasted energy because of the form and that means increased oxygen required. Slowing down, working on form, get that count under 20... then under 17... and you will find it's not so bad

breathing

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