both sides or one?

Tony said:

I have read in many books that I am supposed to breath from both sides while
swimming. This works fine until race day. Once the race starts I find
myself needing to breath every stroke which means I am only breathing out of
one side. I actually feel off balance breathing from just one side, but I
am an out of shape fat ass that needs all the air I can get.

Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done about it?

Assuming you mean every other stroke as breathing every stroke would be
both sides!

Solution 1: get fitter or swim slower so you can breath every third
stroke
Solution 2: Breath every other stroke on the same side and don't worry
about it. That's what I and countless others do. You'll find in
triathlon there are lots of things you're _supposed_ to do or that the
books recommend, or that pros do but at the end of the day everybody
has different abilities, goals and time on their hands so it's best to
listen to all the advice and then forge your own path based on what you
find works for you.

Quoted message said:

--

Best,

Tony

Tony said:

I have read in many books that I am supposed to breath from both sides while
swimming. This works fine until race day. Once the race starts I find
myself needing to breath every stroke which means I am only breathing out of
one side. I actually feel off balance breathing from just one side, but I
am an out of shape fat ass that needs all the air I can get.

Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done about it?

Do you breathe out of only one side the entire time during a race? Or
are you able to calm down and breathe both sides after a while?

I used to find myself doing all sorts of strokes during a race that I
never practiced, and I would have irregular patterned breathing compared
to practice as well. After I calmed down, slowed down, and remembered to
treat it as an exciting training swim, I did a lot better.

Practice swimming hypoxic sets, and you may find that they help you out
during race day.

What this means is that you practice in the pool only breathing once
every 5 strokes, then 7 strokes then 9 strokes, then swim easy after
this. This helps you to practice race day anxiety and the type of
feeling and shortness of breath that you will have during race day so
that you can swim normally during a race.

You could also practice 400 meters of non stop sprinting just under and
above lactate threshold.

For me - I would also practice any other stroke that I may do during a
race. I don't have to use these other strokes in a race, but I will be
prepared and have the strength and endurance to use these strokes, which
means that I probably won't psychologically need to use them.

Good luck.

Tony said:

I have read in many books that I am supposed to breath from both sides while
swimming. This works fine until race day. Once the race starts I find
myself needing to breath every stroke which means I am only breathing out of
one side. I actually feel off balance breathing from just one side, but I
am an out of shape fat ass that needs all the air I can get.

Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done about it?

I generally train in the pool with a breath every 3 strokes. But when I
go hard it is 2 strokes per breath and the occasional 3 strokes to swap
breathing sides, so something like 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2 ... This also
works well on race day where I will focus on my strong side (breathing
on the left) but with the occasional switch to the right for a couple of
strokes, which stops one side of the body becoming too fatigued. The
other advantage of being able to do this is if you have a strong cross
wind you can breath away from the waves.

DaveB

"Rookie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Solution 2: Breath every other stroke on the same side and don't worry
about it. That's what I and countless others do. You'll find in
triathlon there are lots of things you're _supposed_ to do or that the
books recommend, or that pros do but at the end of the day everybody
has different abilities, goals and time on their hands so it's best to
listen to all the advice and then forge your own path based on what you
find works for you.

Quoted message said:

Amen.

The biggest advantage to being able to breath on either (or both) sides is
that it will help you with sighting during open water swims. There are a
huge number of people who don't give a rat's a** about this advantage and
manage to just fine anyway.

Unless you have your eyes on a podium finish, move on and forget about it.

John Hardt said:

"Rookie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Solution 2: Breath every other stroke on the same side and don't worry
about it. That's what I and countless others do. You'll find in
triathlon there are lots of things you're _supposed_ to do or that the
books recommend, or that pros do but at the end of the day everybody
has different abilities, goals and time on their hands so it's best to
listen to all the advice and then forge your own path based on what you
find works for you.

Amen.

The biggest advantage to being able to breath on either (or both) sides is
that it will help you with sighting during open water swims. There are a
huge number of people who don't give a rat's a** about this advantage and
manage to just fine anyway.

Unless you have your eyes on a podium finish, move on and forget about it.

I do believe in being yourself and enjoying your swim, bike and run, but
it can be really bad for your neck and shoulder when you breathe to one
side only.

"Tony" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:ZAwqg.16236$_c1.8108@fed1read05:

Quoted message said:

I have read in many books that I am supposed to breath from both sides
while swimming. This works fine until race day. Once the race starts
I find myself needing to breath every stroke which means I am only
breathing out of one side. I actually feel off balance breathing from
just one side, but I am an out of shape fat ass that needs all the air
I can get.

Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done about it?

I actually split my breathing to both sides, IOW I'll swim 20 strokes
breathing to the left and 20 to the right. I can actually fudge whenever
I need for instance I always change so that when I come to a turn bouy
I'm breathing and therefore looking at the bouy side, helps me go around,
watch out for other people etc. I started this in the pool, swimming down
breathing one side and back breathing the other side, therefore always
looking at the same wall. You will have a dominant or good side but
you'll find that you strengthen both sides this way.
Good Luck
Van

Learn to breath both sides if you can but don't worry too much about it. I
normally breath one side either right or left as the situation might
require. I am most comfortable on the right but manage left side breathing.
I seldom alternate between the two. I let conditions dictate. Sun in my
eyes, wave direction or other swimmers. I have competed in approximately
100 Tris and been first in age group in all but half a dozen. That includes
7 IM podium finishes in 7 attempts. I would like to be able to alternate
breathing and sometimes do in training but seldom in racing. Conditions
dictate my breathing side when competing.

Practice and do what is right for you.

Ken @ Kauai

Tony said:

I have read in many books that I am supposed to breath from both sides while
swimming. This works fine until race day. Once the race starts I find
myself needing to breath every stroke which means I am only breathing out of
one side. I actually feel off balance breathing from just one side, but I
am an out of shape fat ass that needs all the air I can get.

Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done about it?

--

Best,

Tony

I have always breath on one side,Ive never been able to get used to
breathing on both sides.I breath on my left side and most of the races
ive been in the swim is clockwise.so i have to hold my head up ever 3
are 4 strokes to sight the bouy's
Have a gtreat training day
(Tri-man)
http://www.tri-mansworldmailboxofficesupply.com/

I used to breath on one side until one event when the waves came
crashing on the same side and I decided I had to learn to breath both
sides. I just learned how to do it. Now I breath 3 strokes on one side,
switch to 3 on the other side, site the buoy, and then switch again.
Works great.
Good luck -

Triman said:

Tony said:

I have read in many books that I am supposed to breath from both sides while
swimming. This works fine until race day. Once the race starts I find
myself needing to breath every stroke which means I am only breathing out of
one side. I actually feel off balance breathing from just one side, but I
am an out of shape fat ass that needs all the air I can get.

Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done about it?

--

Best,

Tony

I have always breath on one side,Ive never been able to get used to
breathing on both sides.I breath on my left side and most of the races
ive been in the swim is clockwise.so i have to hold my head up ever 3
are 4 strokes to sight the bouy's
Have a gtreat training day
(Tri-man)
http://www.tri-mansworldmailboxofficesupply.com/