swimming and breathing

[divingbiker]

While we're on the subject of breathing, can anyone suggest any tips for breathing on both sides? I learned to breathe to the left, and if I try to breathe to the right my stroke gets out of whack and I'm flailing like I don't know how to swim. I don't seem to be able to figure it out on my own.

I'd like to be able to alternate, because my neck gets stiff turning only one way, and because breathing to both sides is on my list of "Fifty Things to do Before I Die."

[mekira]

ohhhh you guys are great!!!! Thank you so much for all your input

Trimom - I'll definitly try the bob thing. I'm sure it will help relax in the water.

ok so I went this morning after reading all your input on here. Breathe slow and steady Breathe in my mouth, breathe out through my nose and mouth....I managed to do 2 warmup laps!!!! yeah me LOL

Then I did 25m - 1 min rest X 8 and then switched to breast stroke and did another 50m. I really wanted to do 400m cause that's what I'll have to do for my race. So I finished with 4 laps (100m) of kicks. Took me 30 minutes.

Now I think the rest of my problem (out of breath) is more a conditionning problem than a breathing problem. My HR goes right up like when I'm running. I have to learn to pace myself and not go for record breaking times LOL Just finish the race. I'm just starting so I have to give myself a break and get those workouts in. It will get better right???

I'm going back tomorrow. I need to swim at least 3 times a week. Oh did I mention I live by a lake... I'll have to try swimming in it a few times :shudder:

[Torrilin]

Same way you breathe on the other side. Your arm forms a "triangle" right before you reach out for the next stroke. You twist your head into the triangle of air and breathe in.

This sounds much simpler written out than it is in practice. It took me quite literally hours of drill to be able to alternate sides.

[mekira]

Same way you breathe on the other side. Your arm forms a "triangle" right before you reach out for the next stroke. You twist your head into the triangle of air and breathe in.

This sounds much simpler written out than it is in practice. It took me quite literally hours of drill to be able to alternate sides.

oh that makes sense (the triangle) A lot of things to think about next time I go out swimming

I'm practicing in my office as we speak LOL Would have been funny if someone walked in!!!

[colby]

While we're on the subject of breathing, can anyone suggest any tips for breathing on both sides? I learned to breathe to the left, and if I try to breathe to the right my stroke gets out of whack and I'm flailing like I don't know how to swim. I don't seem to be able to figure it out on my own.

I'd like to be able to alternate, because my neck gets stiff turning only one way, and because breathing to both sides is on my list of "Fifty Things to do Before I Die."

Practice, practice, practice. Try making your "off" side look just like your "on" side when you breathe, which may mean you really have to study what you're actually doing on your "on" side, too. As your head turns, your arm comes out of the water, then your head comes all the way out and you can see your fingers. I like the "triangle" visual. It does take time to teach yourself, it's like learning all over again.

I learned to do 3 strokes and breathe (alternating sides) because I couldn't do 4 for very long in the beginning of the season without putting in a lot of time, and I'd get yelled at if I did 2. The more comfortable I get in the water, the better I am at alternating sides (or going one step further and doing 4 strokes between breaths).

Today in my open water practice I noticed that when I start to stress, I breathe, hold my breath, let it out quick, and breathe again, instead of breathing and slowly letting it out. Strange, something to work on in the lake and pool.

[Trek420]

thanks guys! I .... drum roll..... went swimming today. Haven't in years, forgot how much I love it. I have a crink on the right side of my neck but it was easy to breath left. Never got back to the right side but feels good to swim.

[Torrilin]

*nods* Getting the other side down is the easy part. Using both sides is the part where I had trouble. Now most of the time I alternate automatically.

[Lise]

thanks guys! I .... drum roll..... went swimming today. Haven't in years, forgot how much I love it. I have a crink on the right side of my neck but it was easy to breath left. Never got back to the right side but feels good to swim.

Can it be long before Trek signs up for a triathlon?

It's good to read this thread. I swim pretty well breathing to my left, but look like I'm drowning (OK, feel like I'm drowning, I have no idea how I look) when I try to breathe to the right. As a consequence, I swam way off course two times last year in an open water tri when the bouys were to my right.

I also realized that my arms do two different things in the water. Left arm pulls down, across my body, like it's supposed to, right arm goes straight down through the water. Hence, I'm pulling myself off to the left in open water, and breathing to the left...you get the picture! Off I go to the left! In a pool I can stay on track, of course.

I'm doing a sprint tri in one month. It's an OWS, and they just won't post a picture of the swim course on the website. I emailed them, and they did say it's a triangle from the beach. I know the lake; I've done an Oly tri there, in which we swam across the lake. But a triangle...if we sight to the left, I'm golden. If we sight to the right, I'll do a lot of breaststroke. I haven't invested the time this year to learn how to swim right! I'm swimming today, though, and I'll try the triangle idea.

Happy swimming to all! Lise

[Trek420]

Can it be long before Trek signs up for a triathlon?

Yeah Lise, if you'll do the run part for me. I can do two outa three of a Tri

[Lise]

Yeah Lise, if you'll do the run part for me. I can do two outa three of a Tri

Didja know that they have something like that? Can't remember what it's called, something like Aquathlon. For old people with bum knees. It's a swim-bike thing.

As I said to J. yesterday, "I like to race. I just don't like running." I can do it. Just not very fast.