Another breathing question...
2331
Member
2414 days
Tribro posted 3 years ago.
Here are a couple articles on the benefits of bilateral breathing:
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/swim/bilateral-breathing-should-you-breathe-to-both-sides-000114.php
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/swim/how-to-master-the-top-5-challenges-to-breathing-in-freestyle-000634.php
I too breath to one side by habit, but am going to learn to breath to both. Benefits in a tri are being able to see on both sides of you making it easier to mark your position. Being able to choose a side to breath on if 1. there's heavy traffic and thrashing arms to one side of you, 2. if in an ocean swim it's sometimes necessary to breath away from the direction of the swells or wind (learned that by experience, breathing to one I sucked in a ton of water heading out and found it much easier coming back due to wind and swells on one side).
Also it will give you better muscular balance as stated in the first article and once you get the hang of it you might become more relaxed and be more efficient with the oxygen intake, having more breathing pattern options available.
849
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1476 days
catwood posted 3 years ago.
I think most people, even the ones who regularly breathe on both sides have a favorite side... After breathing on my right side for 6 years, 3 years ago I decided that I really needed to start breathing on both sides. It reduced (or rather evened out) my shoulder problems and helped me stop swimming with a lopsided stroke... Its definitely worth the effort to learn to breathe equally on both sides for training. For racing, do what's fastest for you -- now it will definitely be your favorite side, but that might change. If I have a choice I usually just breathe on one side during races, but if the sun's in my eyes, I want to avoid getting kicked in the face, or I need to see where I am, at least I have the option of breathing left without losing any technique. During a race, its usually best to concentrate on one or two things and leave the rest to muscle memory. There are usually more important things to concentrate on than the side you breathe on during a race.
103
Member
1552 days
TIM G posted 3 years ago.
my left shoulder hurts when I swim and I know it's because of me always breathing to my right which makes me over extend my left shoulder 100% of the time vs alternating breathing and sharing the pull with both shoulders....does that make sense?
I actually have tried to start breathing both ways, but I always go back to what's easier for me. I will try to work on this more in my workouts.
1790
Member
1528 days
PrinceofClydes posted 3 years ago.
Balance is everything.
Balance is about keeping the head still.
Lift the head, the hips drop.
The articles tribro linked probably cover all the usual points but consider the following.
Breathing every three strokes gives you the right amount of oxygen to sustain aerobic pace.
Breathing every four strokes would put you into oxygen debt.
Breathing every two strokes (always breathing on the same side) is inefficient because you will likely have unused oxygen from the last breath and..
you must use other muscles to balance your asymmetrical progress.
It adds up over the miles, as Tim has observed above.
It takes energy to breathe, plus, every breath you take slows you down because it breaks your streamlined position. So you should try to minimize the number of breaths you take.
Let's suppose you take 18 strokes per 25m. For 1500m that's 1080 strokes. If you breath every two strokes that's 540 breaths.
But breathe bilaterally, that's once every 3 strokes = 360 breaths
or 180 fewer breaths.
Fewer nods of the head = more efficient stroke.
In the extreme case, no breathing at all, you could swim faster, just as racers do for the last 4 or 5 metres to the wall.
You learned to swim in the first place.
You can learn bilateral breathing.
Just discipline yourself to do it.
It won't take long.
PoC
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
16
Member
1427 days
justinmbaxter posted 3 years ago.
i agree w/ tribro and poc re: balance and race situation w/ splashing or swells on your strong side. there are ways to practice bilateral breathing that don't compromise form. for example, using a pull buoy between the legs will float your legs so you don't have to kick and your legs will follow behind your torso. i also like to use fins during drills and even full stroke for the same reason.
when i first started bilateral breathing, i almost immediately came down with a nasty case of tendinitis in my rights shoulder. i later learned t that i was taking a really hard pull w/ a straight arm to compensate for bad form. i worked hard on rolling my body to breathe, and as it turns out my breathing is better on my strong side as a result of doing those drills.
tim g -- shoulder pain should be addressed right away because with swimming, it won't just go away. totally worth your while to sign up for even a few lessons with a local swim coach. not only can a shoulder injury sideline a triathlete, my coach said that i was on the road to permanent injury. in one lesson, she showed me what i was doing wrong and within a week my shoulder pain was a fading memory.
cheers,
justin
103
Member
1552 days
TIM G posted 3 years ago.
Points taken. I start a masters swim class this Sunday so I can "unlearn" my bad habit.
My left shoulder really does hurt alot from this so I need to learn from folks who know and who can help.
477
Member
1331 days
geochuck posted 3 years ago.
Oh bilateral breathing!!! breathe right side, full cycle (3 strokes) then breathe on the left..
It is now suggested breathe on the right 3 full cycles, every time the left hand enters the water breathe on the right, the next three full cycles, every time the right hand enters, you breathe on the left. It takes a little getting used to but it does balance the way we swim.
George
When I swim laps at the Y, a lot of the experienced swimmers noticed I always breath to the right side. They say this is a bad habit...I say I feel really comfortable breathing this way. When I try to switch breathing left and right I lose my form and it just doesn't feel right.
Plus, when I compete in Tri's most of the swimmers I notice just breath on one side too.
What do you all think??? Would I, or others, be better swimmers alternating breathing, or is it not a big deal?