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2010-07-16 3:42 PM

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Subject: breaststroke for open water

When I was on the swim team in highschool I was strongest in the breaststroke and can still now swim this stroke as fast as the average swimmer swims freestyle (at least the ones I have been swimming next to in the pool). I can also do this without exerting much energy and I think that it may help me with my charting in that thick green lake(you cant see your hands with the goggles on). I have never done an open water tri before and am wondering if I will look like a complete dink if I do the whole thing in breaststroke and save my energy for the bike since there is a 150' elevation climb almost immediately.

To clarify, the question is does anyone else do any other strokes?



Edited by meliwal 2010-07-16 3:45 PM


2010-07-16 3:58 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
People will probably be doing every stroke you could imagine.  Freestyle, side stroke, backstroke, breaststroke, doggie paddle, and also just lying on their backs not going anywhere.  You won't look weird at all... and if you're just as fast if not faster than others, who cares?!  
2010-07-16 3:58 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
What is the furthest distance you have swam breastroke without stopping? I ask because to me there is no energy savings in your legs swimming breastroke, it is all kick and you really need that strength for the bike and run. Swimming freestyle you can rely on your arms for propulsion, to me thats saving energy, add drafting and now you are really talking saving energy. I dont see too many people swimming breastroke while drafting. To say you cant swim freestyle I understand, to say your saving energy swimming breastroke, I dont think so! To me swimming is the easy part, there are no hills or heat to contend with, its almost cheating wearing a wetsuit, swimming breastroke makes it more difficult.
2010-07-16 4:16 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water

I don't think that I have swam more than maybe 400yards breaststroke all at once because I typically rotate my strokes during my workouts(I can swim freestyle). However, when I do this stroke it is easier for me. Maybe this is because my legs are significantly stronger than my arms. I don't know, and I have never tried jumping on a bike after a long session of breaststroke either so maybe it will be tougher. I guess I need to just go to the lake and try it out. I just wanted to know if it would look strange.

2010-07-16 4:45 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
meliwal - 2010-07-16 2:16 PM

I don't think that I have swam more than maybe 400yards breaststroke all at once because I typically rotate my strokes during my workouts(I can swim freestyle). However, when I do this stroke it is easier for me. Maybe this is because my legs are significantly stronger than my arms. I don't know, and I have never tried jumping on a bike after a long session of breaststroke either so maybe it will be tougher. I guess I need to just go to the lake and try it out. I just wanted to know if it would look strange.


You will see plenty of people swimming all strokes, who are you concerned about it looking strange too?
2010-07-16 4:46 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
Nothing wrong with doing breast stroke for the swim leg. Just be aware that, especially at the start, it's pretty close quarters with 200 of you knew best friends playing water-mosh-pit.

For every one's sake (including your own), get WELL out of the fray if you're going to breast stroke the swim leg.


2010-07-16 4:55 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
I think you will find that breaststoke is going to be a noticeable detriment to your legs - if not for the bike, then definitely by the run.  That's one huge reason no serious triathletes use that stroke.

Another reason for not encouraging it as a "primary" stroke plan is that it's a rather violent stroke - your legs are thrashing around much more than in a freestyle crawl.  When people are in close proximity to you, they aren't going to appreciate a sudden kick to the face when that wouldn't otherwise happen if you were doing freestyle.

Freestyle is preferred because it's a relatively safe stroke in close quarters (the washing machine), and it's the stroke that best overall conserves your energy for the bike & run. 

If you are going to breaststroke the whole way, please stay wide on the course - out of the packs and away from other racers.
2010-07-16 10:46 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
meliwal - 2010-07-16 11:16 AM

I don't think that I have swam more than maybe 400yards breaststroke all at once because I typically rotate my strokes during my workouts(I can swim freestyle). However, when I do this stroke it is easier for me. Maybe this is because my legs are significantly stronger than my arms. I don't know, and I have never tried jumping on a bike after a long session of breaststroke either so maybe it will be tougher. I guess I need to just go to the lake and try it out. I just wanted to know if it would look strange.



I'm a little skeptical that it's really going to be more efficient for you but you'll just have to give it a try in training first.  And most definitely you'll want to do an open water swim and then get on the bike in training.  You don't want to find out on race day how breast stroke affects your bike legs.

Don't worry about how it looks. If it works for you then use it - you always look cool when you're winning.  But find out first how well it really works for you.
2010-07-17 12:10 AM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
I have used breast stroke in both of the tris I have done. It's not ideal, but if it's what you are good at, and more importantly, comfortable with, go for it. Plenty of other people will be doing every stroke you can imagine. The only thing I would say is stay towards the back or the outside until the pack thins out. Breast stroke obviously takes up a lot of room, and with a bunch of people around, that can be inconvenient for you and them. Just be courteous towards the other swimmers, especially when you are being passed, passing, or close to other participants. I didn't have any problem with my legs afterwards, but I don't really have a competitive breast stroke. It's not super fast, but I use a long glide, so it doesn't smoke my legs. Do some longer swims with it and see how it works for you. Try to throw a few rides in afterwards to gauge how it feels.
2010-07-17 5:57 AM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
I did my 1st half iron distance a few years back and probably did over 70% of the swim employing the side stroke. Thankfully, it was wetsuit legal which helped a lot. I finished the swim under 40 minutes. I finally "learned" to swim better and now swim almost 90% freestyle and only use the breast stroke for sighting and for an occasional break.
2010-07-17 7:50 AM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
I swim 100 yrd beast stroke in 1:07 but I still wouldn't do it for an OWS no matter how dirty the water.  If you were on a swim team you should have a front crawl that is faster and more efficient then your breast stroke.  Just practice sighting and you will be fine.  The clarity of the water makes no difference in finding the next buoy it is not under the water Tongue out


2010-07-17 12:59 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
Hi I also am a better breast stroke swimmer, in fact i can swim faster with this stroke ,  I use my whole body when i swim i pull , push and glide, I live on a lake and swim in it all the time do not have a local pool so all my swimming is done in the lake, my plan for my next tri is to swim first 100 mtres or so front crawl then change to breast, when the pack thins out a bit, i have not found my legs to be any more tired, but, i would love to be a better front crawl swimmer but for now this works for me, what ever works as others have said you will see all sorts, my hubby did his first tri all back stroke and was not last out of the water so who knows........

good luck
have fun
Sarah. 
2010-07-17 1:02 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
Why would you not use breast stroke for OWS?
2010-07-17 4:58 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
wee scotty - 2010-07-17 8:02 AMWhy would you not use breast stroke for OWS?
2010-07-17 4:58 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
wee scotty - 2010-07-17 8:02 AMWhy would you not use breast stroke for OWS?
2010-07-17 4:58 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
wee scotty - 2010-07-17 8:02 AMWhy would you not use breast stroke for OWS?


Freestyle is an inherently more efficient stroke.  For most people it's faster and requires less energy.  That's why the pros and elites all swim freestyle instead of breaststroke.  If you look at elite swimmers the world freestyle records are all significantly faster than the world breaststroke records.

Now, I suppose it's POSSIBLE for somebody to be such a good breaststroker (and such a poor freestyler) that their breaststroke is more efficient, but for most people the freestyle is more efficient. (and faster)

The swim in a triathlon isn't all about being fast of course.  Rule #1: Triathlon is never won in the water, but it can be lost in the water.  Even if you're one of those rare people who actually IS faster at breaststroke it doesn't do you any good to hammer a breaststroke and get out of the water x minutes faster if you use so much energy doing it that you don't ride or run as well.  It's more important to be efficient in the water in triathlon than to be fast.

There can be a role for breaststroke - especially if you just aren't comfortable freestyling the whole distance and need to breaststroke a few strokes here and there for sighting or breathing or just to take a break.  But for the majority of people the freestyle is a better stroke for triathlon.

Or maybe it's just a mental advantage for you.  If you're really not comfortable freestyling and the breaststroke is what you need to do to get you thru the swim, then I guess that's o.k.

But...allowing for the possibility that you're the rare exception that does breast stroke so much better/faster/easier I guess it's worth trying it in training.  Do an open water breaststroke, time it, then immediately transition to the bike and see how you ride.  If it works for you then it works for you.  But you'll be one of the few.

If you were one of my coached athletes I'd recommend you join master's swim and learn to freestyle better.


Edited by bschorr 2010-07-17 5:09 PM


2010-07-17 6:43 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water

meliwal - 2010-07-16 1:42 PM

When I was on the swim team in highschool I was strongest in the breaststroke...

You were strongest in the breaststroke but was it faster than your freestyle or did you just place higher in races with it?

2010-07-17 6:46 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
I totally agree freestyle is more efficient , but, i was asking why would  he not swim OWS breast stroke..
I have a swim coach that i work with and i am getting better at freestyle , but, on a mental note ( for me) knowing I can swim a good pace breast stroke gets me through the swim.
Also I have done transition, i biked to the pool all of last year and biked home 3x weekly, of course it was a sprint i was trainng for, but plan on putting myself to the test in the coming weeks , 
thanks for all the good advice, I hope one day I am on here saying i finished my whole race freestyle..

Sarah 
2010-07-17 7:10 PM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
wee scotty - 2010-07-17 1:46 PM I totally agree freestyle is more efficient , but, i was asking why would  he not swim OWS breast stroke..
I have a swim coach that i work with and i am getting better at freestyle , but, on a mental note ( for me) knowing I can swim a good pace breast stroke gets me through the swim.
Also I have done transition, i biked to the pool all of last year and biked home 3x weekly, of course it was a sprint i was trainng for, but plan on putting myself to the test in the coming weeks , 
thanks for all the good advice, I hope one day I am on here saying i finished my whole race freestyle..

Sarah 


I suspect his answer is the same as mine - freestyle is a naturally more efficient stroke and thus better suited for triathlon.

Good that you have another stroke you have confidence in as you develop your freestyle. Never hurts to be versatile. 
2010-07-18 1:28 AM
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Subject: RE: breaststroke for open water
I also swam in high school and college and was strong at breaststroke.  I won't use it in an OWS for two main reasons:

1) You kick other people too much and they get pissed.
2) Wetsuits change your body position in the water, pushing your feet higher.  This causes your feet to come out of the water during a breaststroke kick, unless you're very careful.

The one advantage is that sighting becomes a non-issue.  But it's still slower than freestyle and you're putting wear on your legs that'll catch up with you on the bike.
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