Reigster now for free to join this or any of the thousands of ongoing discussions - Connect with thousands of athletes, post questions, share thoughts, find a training buddy,access triathlon training programs, marathon training programs and more!
Discussion: swimming help
Subject: swimming help By: aidana salinas Written on: 2005-03-22 14:49:19 Message: Hi everybody. I am actually planning on completing my first Triatholon in July (Danskin). I am very excited. Well, I've been physically getting in the pool since mid January, but I can't seem to grasp it quite well. I am trying to develop a breathing pattern. I seem to be gasping for air or not feeling a can keep this "catch my breath and let go" method for a long period of time. Any suggestions?? Is there a right way or a wrong way to breath while swimming?
Subject: RE: swimming help By: John Day Written on: 2005-03-22 17:09:33 Message: I struggled with this exact problem for about a year until one of my students (I teach High school students) who is a swimmer went out and watched me flail in the water. He is an awesome swimmer, and he basically said to develop a breathing pattern that works for me. I wound up breathing every stroke (or every other stroke if you count each hand). Meaning every time my right hand goes out to stroke I inhale. After a while of doing this I would breathe every third stroke, with some variation. The point was to be comfortable. He told me that since I was going to be in the water for 1 to 2 miles it made no sense to "go anaerobic" by not breathing or by going out so fast as to not be comfortable. I also use noseplugs because I cannot stand water going up my nose and try as I might water makes it up there. It took some time for me to develop a good comfy pattern, and two months of work is a good start- you should start to get comfortable in the water with your breathing soon. I also found (as a sidenote) that after several months of not swimming regularly that I was able to "get back into" a normal breathing pattern relatively quickly. Kind of like riding a bike- once you learn, you just kind of "remember". Take heart- you are normal. Keep going and you will succeed.
Subject: RE: swimming help By: Danna Tanner Written on: 2005-03-22 17:25:12 Message: I'm a former competitive swimmer, and these are tips that work for me....hopefully others will have more suggestions and you can figure out what will work best for you. The main reason you are gasping is because when you come out of the water, you are releasing any leftover air before you take air in...thus creating a short time frame for breathing in. Trying breathing out of your nose AND mouth while you swim. 1st reason is that you will have released your air and have time to breathe when you come up. 2nd reason is that when you blow out of your mouth, you will create a small pocket around your mouth for when you turn your head to breathe. (I always keep half of my face in the water when I breathe--creates less thrashing in the water) When you breathe--is it a gasp from the chest/throat or like sucking thru a straw? Try it as if you are sucking thru a straw. You'll get a better pull of air and reduce the chances of sucking water down the wrong pipe. The way you can tell if this is working is by turning your head to the side--half of your mouth in the water, half of it out. Breathe in (it's ok to let water pool in your mouth) You will be able to feel the difference. Learn to breathe on both sides. This will even and smooth out your stroke. A good and clean stroke will be more energy effecient, use your oxygen more effeciently and you won't feel like you are gasping, either. A drill you can practice is called 'lung busters' or in other sports--ladders. Swim one lap breathing every 3 strokes, the next lap every 5, next every 7, next every 5, next every 3. Or a variation of your own. This will help increase lung capacity, which in turn will help eleminate the 'gasping' feeling. Finally, stay away from carbonated drinks in any form. Carbonation not only dehydrates you, but it 'winds' you. When I drink pop, I too, find myself gasping for air. I wish I could get in a pool and show you! I hope I haven't confused you. If possible, rent a video from the library of olympic swimmers....that might help clarify what I said if you can see it in action. Good luck!!
Subject: RE: swimming help By: bob gracey Written on: 2005-03-23 11:34:40 Message: my wife is learn to swim as we speak. Breathing is also her problem. What I am having her do is breathe each stroke and just on one side for now. With each stroke she rolls almost but not fully onto her back to breathe in (through her mouth)and then roll back onto her stomach to exhale (through her nose). This is a exagerated roll. The exhalation should be done under the water. Never, ever pick your head up like you are looking ahead of you to breathe. Just learn to roll to the side to breathe in and then roll to your stomach to exhale. As you get comfortable with your roll you can minimize the roll to your back when you inhale. And yes you should learn to breathe to both sides. And begin to get comfortable with bilateral breathing soon after you get comfortable in the water. The lung busters are a great (albeit painful) way to train.
Subject: RE: swimming help By: aidana salinas Written on: 2005-03-24 11:24:31 Message: Thanks so much for all the ideas and suggestions. I can't wait to try them out. The lung busters do sound hard and scary, but i'm so determined to complete my triatholon!!! THANKS AGAIN!
Subject: RE: swimming help By: david goff Written on: 2005-03-24 19:00:58 Message: as you learn and get more comfortable do try to breathe on both sides - if you're ever in an open water swim waves can come from any direction, being able to adjust to swells helps prevent inhaling water!
Back to Discussion Index Triathlon Training  Triathlon Gear  Marathon Training  Health and Fitness