Swim - 2 stroke vs 3 stroke breathing

I am working hard on my swimming. I bought the total immersion dvd, and I have studied it and took notes that I use at pool. It has helped tremendously at pool with relaxing and being smoother in the pool. 400-600 meters is no big deal to me using this technique, although I a swimming at about 1:35 100m, and about a 12:15 400m. ie Slow! But I can breathe, and don't take breaks which is big improvement. This is being done with a breath on right side with every other stroke, I can do it to left side length of pool too, but right is most comfortable, tendancy to get anxious from time to time on left side. I can also swim with taking a breath every 3rd stroke alternating sides like most advise. However this seems to gas me after 50 to 75 meters. first 25 look real good and progressively gets harder to catch breath. I watch others and they seem so at ease breathing this way. I don't understand.

It appears this would make me considerably faster?? But at what cost?

I am open to advice and suggestions, maybe some of you have had trouble switching over.

Should I just stay with what is comfortable?

Also how is my slow pace a factor in my difficult breathing in 3 stroke.

I tried to sign up for TI workshop in Cincinnati but it was full this wknd, several months before another TI clinic in this area

Edited by coachrains 2014-02-28 8:47 AM