Waiting to exhale - Triathlon Week

Spike10 · 03-27-2007, 03:03 PM

O.K. kids spike's having a bit of trouble in the water, last years races went something like this (for those of you new to the spike chronicles) the first race was a disaster as a jet ski gave me a wave that I inhaled (swim over), the next race an olympic, wetsuit was the wrong kind and it felt like I was swimming with a anaconda around my chest. I finished the race doing the breast stroke, man was that slow. And the final race of the season a Half IM, 200 yds. from the start a shoulder injury flaired up, breast stroke again but I finished it, no wetsuit this time. My problem stems from nearly drowning twice as a child, now I want to keep my head out of the water too much and this is really affecting the stroke and speed of my swim portion. I read the TI book cover to cover several times and I nailed the inhale and body position, I feel way better in the water now but I have a timing issue with the exhale, I can't find in the book when to breath out. My brain says you better hang on to that air you have since your nose and mouth are under water, but if I wait to exhale on the side there is no way to inhale enough to keep any kind of stroke. About every 10 strokes there is no more oxygen left in my blood and I have to stop and gasp for air. I feel like a complete klutz and it's starting to really iritate me

. Any suggestions will be put into action the next time I get wet.
My shoulder injury that screwed up last years race has been fixed and I will be purchasing a tri wet suit this season, so the only thing I need now is a bit of advice.
Well thanks for reading, talk to you all soon.
Spike.

pyschosyd · 03-28-2007, 01:44 PM

The exhale allways seems to get second fiddle to the inhaleing. The way i figured it out was to keep my face in the water while doing kicking lengths. That way I could focus strictly on breathing out under water. Just slowly letting the air out.

Work well for me.

Good Luck

Syd

Spike10 · 03-28-2007, 03:12 PM

Thanks for the tip Syd, I will try it out, and for some reason Scott's reply did not come thru, and it did not come via e-mail like yours did, I wonder if something is wrong on my end or on the site.
Robert G if your are listining could you see if it's on the site? Thanks
I'm so pumped about this season I can't wait to get to the races, and while we are on the swim forum, is there any way to not have your adrenaline shoot thru the roof when you hear the air horn at the start of the race?????
Talk to you soon.
Spike.

Robert G. · 03-28-2007, 04:04 PM

For some reason Scott's reply didn't post correctly, I'm looking into it right now.