how many strokes do you take before breathing in the swim
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kkocan posted 1 year ago.
In training I always alternate sides breathing every other stroke. In races however, I've found that I revert back to single sided breathing to my left. as I'm just faster that way.
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fittycent posted 1 year ago.
The word is "swum." :)
I'm faster when I breathe less, but I gotta breathe quite a bit when I'm trying to go fast, so I usually settle into a breath every two or three strokes in a race. So, if you don't need the extra air, I think you'd be faster breathing every third stroke.
Bilateral breathing has helped me with sighting in races, if only because I get to see what's on both sides of me when I breathe.
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UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
Here's part of a post I wrote a bit ago:
Breathing less often (especially to opposite sides, i.e., every third) will help maintain your line in the water. Breathing often and on the same side will most likely cause you to "snake" through the water, which is going to be less efficient. Just make sure to breath enough to get sufficient oxygen to your muscles, no more, no less.
As long as you're not going into oxygen debt or destroying your stroke, you're probably better off breathing every three instead of every two.
As far as sighting goes, it shouldn't matter. Your actual sighting technique (good or bad) is what will cause a difference. If you ever watch a mid- or long-distance race at a decent swim meet, you'll see that a few of the swimmers have a slightly lop-sided stroke with a bit of a catch-up. This is done by going a little deeper with one arm than the other and adjusting the timing a bit. I like to do one of these strokes when sighting to give myself a bit more time to look so I can sight properly without choking my stroke. There's also a bit of dolphin-undulation to go with it to keep things more fluid. This probably won't work for everyone, but it helps me to sight without losing speed.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
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catwood posted 1 year ago.
Every 3-5 in training... unless I'm doing breathe every stroke every side for drills or hypoxics sets.
In races, I tend just do what's comfortable. Breathing on the right is slightly more comfortable for me, but I still do mostly bilateral breathing. It also depends on where the sun is, waves, crowds, etc... It usually comes out averaging every 3 but I switch on an off with 4-2 same side breathing sometimes...
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thebeatcatcher posted 1 year ago.
in an open water swim at tri distance, i don't think it is too crucial.
bi-lateral breathing can help you straighten out, but you can still go straight breathing on one side.
bi-lateral breathing also helps you see competitors on both sides.
i don't think changing your breathing patterns is the best way to get faster. i think it is a much smaller part of the equation, especially at tri distances.
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
I breathe every two or every four. In a tri, I usually breathe 2, 2, 4, then sight, 2, 2, 4, sight. That's just my pattern. But I can't breathe to one side due to an old injury, so bilateral breathing is out for me. I think bilateral breathing facilitates swimming straighter, so if you can do it, it's a good idea. But it's not necessary. I swim straight enough with my one sided breathing, even though also due to my left shoulder injury I swim with a bit of a "limp".
Bilateral breathing also gives you an advantage if waves are coming from one side, you can just breathe to the other side. There are plenty of times I've wished I've been able to do this. So I think breathing bilaterally is a great thing to practice, but is it a necessity? not in my opinion.
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ston_ar posted 1 year ago.
I breathe on one side, mostly right, when im doing open water, But I can breathe to both sides if I need to. Most fast distance swimmers will breathe every 2, just to get more oxygen in the system, but again its whatever works for you. Your technique is going to be a bigger limiter on your speed than breathing is until you get to the upper echelons.
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theTRIguy posted 1 year ago.
yeah i would say 3, as it keeps you 'blanced,' -breathing on alternate sides and makes you swim straight.
:cool: theTRIguy
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you're taking up too much space
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PrinceofClydes posted 1 year ago.
It's a skill.
Practice it like any other.
The usefulness of breathing every 2, 3, 4, 5 strokes has been outlined by posters above.
- every 2 strokes lets you take in more oxygen as in during the first hectic 500 metres, and to watch opponents.
- every 3 strokes facilitates a balanced swim and is enough oxygen intake when you have settled into a rhythm.
- 4 strokes is just for those who find it awkward or painful to breathe on the "other side."
- every 5 strokes if you are really fit or swimming really slowly and don't need as much air.
Speed comes with efficiency of stroke, and a sloppy breathing technique can disrupt the stroke too, so get it right.
good luck,
PoC
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
Just curious, I've always swam (is that a word? swum? swimmed?) breathing from the same side with two strokes in between, i.e. breathing on the second stoke . I'm trying to get faster in my swim and wanted to know if using three stokes and alternating breathing sides is faster (breathing on the third stroke)? Does it affect sighting during the race? If anyone has any input/experience I would appreciate it.
thanks in advance for responses.