[QUOTE=Dogmama;650247]I take a break because of heart rate - I'm out of breath. It's crazy because I sprint on my bike and on my runs with no problem. Of course, I'm not holding my breath intermittently either.QUOTE]

Don't hold your breath. You need to be exhaling continuously through your nose while your face is in the water. If you hold your breath, when you rotate up to breathe, you have to exhale first, then breathe. That will exhaust you very quickly. If you continuously exhale, then you are ready to breathe as you rotate up. This will make a huge difference. You can actually see this in some of the underwater video coverage of the Olympic swimming events.

Work first on breathing every right hand stroke (or left if you that is your dominant side). Once you get that down, it's easier to breath every 3rd stroke. This means you need to learn to breathe on your non-dominant side as well. If you are swimming in open water with waves, or in a crowded lane of a swimming pool you will appreciate being able to do alternate side breathing.