breathing problems in OWS
242
Member
1038 days
fpugsley posted 25 weeks ago.
I would just breathe every stroke. I just see it as not putting myself in oxygen debt too early. Its not going to slow you down, but swimming with your head up really will.
In races i think my adrenaline gets going and i swim faster than i planned, and sometimes my chest feels tight.
193
Member
251 days
azmojo804 posted 25 weeks ago.
I would agree with fpugsley on breathing every stroke (I'm assuming meaning every right arm, or left arm depending on your preference). Just swimming normal in the pool (not competitive or trying to go fast) I have to breath every right arm. It just keeps me going.
I would also say that you're probably suffering from the physical/ailment you described - head cold. If I start getting snot in the way, or a headache, or dizzy due to head cold, any of my athletic endeavors are definitely affected.
7
Member
197 days
breezy posted 25 weeks ago.
I would also agree with breathing every stroke. I've found training in the pool or on calm days on the lake, practice breathing on one side for 5 minutes, then the other side for five minutes helps me be able to sight correctly on either side and allows me to compensate for a wake in either direction if it occurs on race day.
Okay, since y'all solved the seatpost issue so well (and because it was a funny as hell) I am looking for more advice.
I started swimming three years ago. Prior to that I fumbled through sprints and Oly's with a doggie paddle and some walking in shallow area's. I am admittedly a bit nervous in open water. Last year I did a HIM, but only swam open water 6 times before the race. My pool times were good, but I couldn't go fast in open water and was pretty nervous training so didn't really figure out how to go fast cause I figured I was gonna die from a shark attack or a vicious eel. I was admittedly nervous and didn't like having my head under water.
So this year, I vowed to fix that. I got into the open water in May (in Newfoundland, where the icebergs come in in May) and have been in the open water ever since. I feel very very comfortable and am going very very fast in the open water, no nervousness, no panic. I really figured I had it fixed.
SO yesterday I did a sprint leading into my taper as a confidence builder. I was in the lead swim group at 200m then I couldn't get enough oxygen in. I wasn't panicked, I just felt like my airway wasn't big enough. I had to heads up for about 150m then could only breath on every second stroke (I normally breathe threes). I had a little head cold going in, but don't know if it's physical or psychological. Has anyone else experienced this?
Sorry about the novel!