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Burping when swimming-it's got to stop!

mccnc's picture
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started by mccnc on July 17, 2008

Since I've started training for this tri I think I have either read, asked or just wondered to my self more strange body questions than in my entire life.

So....
When I'm swimming my longer distances (I'm up to a little over 1 mile)--I have to burp-a lot. I don't think it has to do with anything I'm eating before hand so I'm assuming it may have to do with how I'm breathing.

Is this normal? And does anyone have any thoughts on what I can do to stop it?

Thanks!

Tags: Swimming, burping
ChunkyB's picture
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ChunkyB posted 1 year ago.

Try to not swallow so much water/air when you breathe. Try to tilt your head farther to the side, or kind of tilt your head down and to the side (kind of next to your shoulder). This should give you better clearance above the water.

But, yeah, it's totally common, and it's basically just because you're swallowing water, and taking air with it.

"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice

mccnc's picture
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mccnc posted 1 year ago.

I don't feel like I'm swallowing much water-maybe a bit here and there but not enough for me to even notice. Am I taking too much air?

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ChunkyB posted 1 year ago.

mccnc wrote:
I don't feel like I'm swallowing much water-maybe a bit here and there but not enough for me to even notice. Am I taking too much air?

It's the air that you're swallowing that will make you burp. If you're not swallowing any water, then you can just breathe. When you swallow water, you probably are swallowing air with it, and it goes in your stomach instead of your lungs because you're swallowing.

Okay, that sounded totally condescending (and obvious). But, basically, you might try to concentrate on just breathing, and try not to swallow anything by just spitting out the water you get in there while stroking or whatever. You might not be swallowing a lot of water, but you might be swallowing a lot more air than you realize.

"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice

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theShiba posted 1 year ago.

Concentrate on EXHALING, not inhaling. I burp sometimes when I swim, but it's mostly when I get tired and start "sucking" air... Make sure that you are pushing out all the air, and letting air just come in naturally.

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Nutty posted 1 year ago.

theShiba wrote:
Concentrate on EXHALING, not inhaling. I burp sometimes when I swim, but it's mostly when I get tired and start "sucking" air... Make sure that you are pushing out all the air, and letting air just come in naturally.

+1. I experience the burping if im breathing on every stroke. If it starts i concentrate on doing a couple breaths going every other stroke. This seems to help. I think its just from not fully exhaling the air before bringing more in, so you end up with a lot of stale CO2 rich air mixing with the fresh stuff coming in.

Just guessing on that of course.

-Alan

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jonovision_man posted 1 year ago.

I've had the same problem... hopefully this isn't too much information, but I get cramping from swallowing air as well, and it can be pretty uncomfortable.

When I focused on it, I realized I was gulping air, and doing a swallow before my exhale. I've been working on it... being calm and comfortable helps a lot. Getting a nice calm inhale rather than a desperate gulp seems to make a big difference.

jono

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kylie posted 1 year ago.

I've never noticed it before, but I was burping some during my swim today -- I blame it on this thread. And on the part of a carne asada burrito I had before jumping in, but mostly on this thread :-P

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248-n8 posted 1 year ago.

I typically burp about 5 - 10 mins after my swim which I know is from all the reasons mentioned above. I am trying to learn how to not feel like I have to take in as much air as my lungs can possibly hold but I know that comes with comfort level and time.

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tri-ac posted 1 year ago.

kylie wrote:
I've never noticed it before, but I was burping some during my swim today -- I blame it on this thread. And on the part of a carne asada burrito I had before jumping in, but mostly on this thread :-P

:)

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mccnc posted 1 year ago.

Yeah-I have to stay away from those burritos if I know I have to swim...make that bike or run as well.

I'm going to really focus when I swim tonight. I think I need to work on the no gulping. It does get worse as I get more tired.

Thanks for all of the input!

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zanzabar88 posted 1 year ago.

I have this same problems in open-water swims. I imagine it's because I'm able to burp at the end of my sets in the pool (usually do 10x200 or 4x500) so I don't notice it as much. In my two tris so far this year I've REALLY noticed burping, the first one I had to pull off to the side and pause until I got the burp out, then got back into it.

I agree with the above, it's the more frantic - and less controlled - breathing that does it. If somehow I'm able to calm down (choppy water doesn't help either) I can avoid the burping until the end.

The spectators in my last tri sure experienced a fun time with me belching all the way up the chute from the swim to the transition area.

I wanna start placing in my age group!