Hey swimmers....

[froglegs]

I've been alternating sides with every breath (breathing every 3 strokes) but once I start open water swimming, I have a feeling that may change.

[KSH]

Every 2 strokes on the right side. I have been doing this since I started on a swim team when I was 13 years old. I'm 35 now and still swimming that way.

I've tried bilateral breathing... but it was just too much effort. I swim fast doing what I do now... why spend effort and energy on improving it... when I need to spend that time on improving my running and cycling.

Good luck on finding what works best for you!

[KnottedYet]

I don't put my head underwater. I may the be only chickie to do the Danskin Tri with a doggie paddle/left sidestroke/no water in my face technique.

Someday I want to learn to swim properly, like you guys.

[teigyr]

Knot, serious? And you could do sprint tri distance? I bow down in awe. I can put my head in the water and I still struggled.

I think I will start going to swimming in Queen Ann on sundays. You are so welcome to join me!

[KnottedYet]

Serious. Took me 25 min to do half a mile (3/4 of a kilometer or so) but I did it. Everyone passed me.

(but I passed them on the bike leg! Yeah! ...but then they passed me again on the run)

[kelownagirl]

Knot - you are the reason I decided to make triathlon my goal.

[KnottedYet]

I always tell my patients that I'm the example of what not to do.

I sucked at the tri, but I had a great fun time! I kicked serious heinie on the bike leg, so at least I know where my strength is!

Wanna do the same course again. (I've heard they shortened the swim leg, which is FINE with me) Wanna do it on my road bike and walk/jog the run leg and see if my time picks up.

Tri is the most crazy fun I've had in years. Doing a women's only tri is an absolute blast!

If anyone has ever considered it, or just thought it might be a distant goal, GO FOR IT! It doesn't matter how well you do, everyone cheers for you! And you end up cheering for everyone!

It's cosmic love and harmony and "us vs. the course" rather than "me vs. you."

(and Sally Edwards does every Danskin, and she is one HOT "older" babe! She always is the last person to cross the finish line. If you are second to last, she and a few other elites go with you every step of the way -until the line, where you go first- and you get a huge cheer from the crowd and a basket of goodies)

[Starfish]

Knot, serious? And you could do sprint tri distance? I bow down in awe. I can put my head in the water and I still struggled.

I think I will start going to swimming in Queen Ann on sundays. You are so welcome to join me!

Seriously, Ed would be a great (and kind) person to talk to about learning a more conventional stroke...a nice man. Boy, if I lived over that way, I would be joining you guys! That was a neat group when I was there; of course, that was a million years ago!

[Starfish]

And on the breathing...

It has been awhile since I was doing regular swim workouts, and have never done a competitive open water swim of any kind. I tend to breathe bilaterally ever other stroke (I guess every 3rd?) during workouts, as a general rule, unless I am specifically working on breathing (then less often). Or, unless I'm really getting fatigued, then just same side, because it is much easier for me.

I agree with Wahine about the roll. I don't know PT stuff, but the roll is so important. I use "off side" breathing as a test of how sloppy or weak my stroke is getting...when breathing to the other side is a lot harder, I know the balance of my stroke has deteriorated.

That said, when I used to race (and I suspect if I ever do a tri), I will just breathe on my one "good" side, because it still is not second nature to just really push hard and well during bilateral breathing.

Oh, and when I used to train in the pool, I used to pyramid sets based on number of breaths per length of pool, until it was no breaths, and then finally a length underwater. These did help me get comfortable with breathing less often.

[alpinerabbit]

you scare me. an entire length diving and 16500 ft climbing.