Swimming and out of breath - Triathlon Week

giosan1 · 03-18-2003, 01:19 PM

Every time I swim, I have such a hard time maintaining a good pace. I've been working on stroke effeciency and yet find it hard on trying to breath every 3~5. Any suggestions?

Robert G. · 03-18-2003, 02:23 PM

Giosan,

I have the same problem, but it really hasn't affected my races. I tend to breathe alot more than most. I don't think its a major problem if you are swimming with good body position (I can take a quick breath by moving my head slightly over my shoulder when I take a stroke).

I would suggest looking into a masters swim program, it has really helped me. I just don't swim as hard when I'm training alone.

- R

Zylo · 09-20-2004, 04:16 PM

Stop trying to maintain a good pace. That's the problem right there.

Slow down. Concentrate on maintaining A pace. Swimming isn't like running/biking. To get good at long distance open water swims, the idea isn't to push yourself. It's to slow down and pace yourself and feel comfortable. Speed comes as you get better at it and improve technique.

wannatri · 09-20-2004, 09:16 PM

Many people who have trouble breathing -- myself for one, have trouble because of how they exhale. The objective is to breathe constantly. Inhale quickly, exhale slowly; the exhale should be full and take at least twice as long as the inhale. Try exhaling through your nose. This will help control the speed with which you can push air out. If you exhale more fully, you get more air on the inhale, and thus you won't feel so out of breath.

Smartt/RST · 12-29-2004, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannatri

Many people who have trouble breathing -- myself for one, have trouble because of how they exhale. The objective is to breathe constantly. Inhale quickly, exhale slowly; the exhale should be full and take at least twice as long as the inhale. Try exhaling through your nose. This will help control the speed with which you can push air out. If you exhale more fully, you get more air on the inhale, and thus you won't feel so out of breath.

This is excellent advice, as you are maximizing the volume of air and amount of time for gas exchange to occur between the inhaled air and the blood circulating in your lungs - i.e.: more O2 in and more CO2 out with each breath.

swibikerun_boy · 01-16-2005, 11:49 AM

what you might be doing is exhaling when you are supposed to be inhaling. The object is to exhale with your head still face down in the water and inhale when your arm comes around. It just takes a little practice. Hope this helps.

Peace
Tyler

BrandanHarmon · 01-30-2005, 10:14 AM

I had the same problem when I tried to change my breathing patterns. I wanted to change from breathing on one side only to breathing on both sides. Ultimatley I had to go back to breathing on one side on every stroke. I know that that's not the way great swimmers do it, but now my limit on swimming is muscle fatigue, not oxygen deprivation.

swibikerun_boy · 01-30-2005, 01:27 PM

actually lately many people have been turning to the breathing every two instead of breathing every three strokes. It all depends on what your stroke is like. If you have uneven body roll i would suggest breathing every three (helps maintain postion). but if you already have a great stroke breathing every two is great. I remember watching the 2004 Olympic Summer games 200m final with ian thorpe and michael phelps and they were both breathing every two. Even watching Grant Hackett win the 1500m he was breathing every two. THe only downside to breathing every two is that it could screw up your stroke a bit and cause un-even body roll.

Peace
Tyler

BrandanHarmon · 01-30-2005, 03:32 PM

Tyler,

Thanks for the perspective. Sometimes you have to figure out the best way for yourself but there are lots of examples to study.

I am larger than most (6'4, 215lbs) and am not exactly flipper in the water. I have a good stoke and really love the O2 with this type of breathing. It can be extremely smooth with practice, the trick that I have found is to be very aware of the body roll and keeping my chest down and my butt up.