Help with breathing during swim

I'm strictly a left-side breather.  I used to try and get by breathing on every 4th stroke, but during a race I found I wasn't getting enough oxygen to maintain my pace.  I've since switched to breathing on each pair instead, and it's much better.  I find that during training, it takes me about 12 laps of the pool or around 300 meters before I've gotten settled into a rhythm.  I need to start out at a slower pace and try and build from there after about 1/4 mile.  If I go out too quickly, I find I go anaerobic and have difficulty recovering, as well as displaying the same symptoms you mentioned.  Try slowing the initial pace down to something you can handle.  You might want to do swims in a negative-split fashion, i.e., going faster towards the end instead.

Max

I am also a left side only breather. Both side breathing is ideal if you can. I also breathe on every stroke. It helps me keep a rhythm going and I don't get so panicky because I'm running out of breath. It's best for breathing to build a rhythm. You need to feel as comfortable breathing in the water as you are breathing out of it. That usually means slowing down. I know that this may sound countertuitive to racing but you will never be fast if you don't get a good breathing rhythm down. Relax. Slow down. And get a breathing rhythm you feel comfortable with. Try just practicing breathing. It is extremely diffuclt to breathe while swimming. Our lungs are used to getting an exchange of O2 for CO2 frequently, multiple times every 10 seconds. But when you're swimming you're holding the CO2 in much longer than normal, and that can wreak havoc with your breathing system. So it's important to perfect water breathing before you start racing or going fast. It's ok to go slow at first. The best thing about swimming is that you can gradually get faster much more rapidly than other sports. Keep at it. And Good luck.

Ovetta.

Ovetta.