Swim breathing frequency

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2007-03-31 10:09 PM

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Veteran
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Denver CO
Subject: Swim breathing frequency
Typically I breathe every three arm strokes. It gives me a balanced and symmetric feeling in the water. Only when pushing really hard do I have to go back to breathing every 2 strokes.

Recently I studied some swimming world championship videos for the 800m freestyle and found to my surprise that most elite swimmers seem to breathe every 2 strokes. Am I depriving myself of oxigen here? What is the recommended breath frequency??

2007-03-31 10:12 PM
in reply to: #744191

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency
You already answered your own question.

"Only when pushing really hard do I have to go back to breathing every 2 strokes"

Don't you think those 800m world championship swimmers are workign really hard?

There is no recommended breathing frequency.

See the first post of this thread:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...
2007-03-31 10:22 PM
in reply to: #744191

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency
Thanks, breathing when you need it sure does sound like a solid strategy. Great thread you pointed me to.

I do like the 3 stroke breathing though, feels very balanced. When I 2 stroke breathe I feel a bit like I am swimming on one side.
2007-03-31 10:54 PM
in reply to: #744191

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency

easy/medium, every 3.

Medium/medium hard I breath every two, then three.  Basically, two one one side and then switch and breath two on the other. This lets me get more air while still changing sides.

Hard - every other.  It's like sprinting and you need the air.  If you're watching 800 m. sprinters they are working HARD and need all the air they can get.

2007-04-01 12:03 AM
in reply to: #744191

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Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency
personally I would look at how often the elite triathletes breath and do the same.

2007-04-01 12:30 AM
in reply to: #744191

Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency

I'm the opposite of elite, but I HAVE to breathe every other stroke.


2007-04-01 4:59 AM
in reply to: #744191

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Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency
What I will do sometimes is breathe every second stroke, but periodically breathe every third so that I am switching sides. For example, I typically start out breathing every second stroke to the left, then half-way across the pool, I'll breathe on the third stroke so that I am now breathing to the right. That way I feel like I am keeping myself more balanced.
2007-04-01 8:34 AM
in reply to: #744191

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Subject: RE: Swim breathing frequency
I can usually swim my first 100yds with the 3 stroke method comfortably, but then need to go to left side breathing, every other stroke. I NEED to work on getting better @ breathing to the right for races - my mind wants to rotate, but my body just says no - doh! My times are clearly faster w/ the 3 stroke - I just begin gasping for air...
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