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Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much?
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need4speed
Jul 4, 09 9:15
Post #26 of 36 (440 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [renorider]
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Top 20% swimmer here (not great but pretty good and still improving). Being able to breath equally well on both sides without suffering a loss of speed is a huge advantage in racing. You can easily switch to see things on each side, how many people are around you, etc... Also as you lift your head slightly to sight once every 10 strokes or so, you don't end up stressing the muscles on one side of your neck more than the other. I did bilateral breathing for a long time (every 3) but now I breath every 2 strokes for 4 or 5 strokes, then skip a breath and switch to breathing on the other side for 4 or 5 strokes. In a race I switch sides more like every 10. I find the extra air helps me go faster -- my times when breathing every 3 are a little slower and I don't have enough air to sprint.
Again, as others have said here the main reason to be able to breath on both sides is to train your body to be equally fast and efficient regardless of where you take a breath. In actuality you will always favor one side a little more than the other but with practice this can be minimized.
renorider
Jul 8, 09 17:25
Post #27 of 36 (380 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [show pony]
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Mate, you shouldn't have this much of a discrepancy. You're just doing something wrong when you breathe...whether it's a small pause on the breathing stroke, lifting your head, crossing over on entry, dropping your elbow on the catch, or any number of other reasons that no online diagnosis could pick, that's what is slowing you down. The fact that you repeatedly mention "breaking stroke" somewhat confirms this...you shouldn't be. Couple of things:
1. Have you done the same set with your 2/4 breath reps on the other, less natural side? Might feel awkward but it could tell you something immediately...
2. Describe your kick? I don't kick for propulsion (apart from all-out sprints) but when I breathe bilaterally my trunk, hips & ultimately my "kick" always feel stronger & more balanced...
Haven't done the set on my left side. My kick is probably similar to yours; it's mostly for balance and keeping my anti-flotation legs somewhere near the surface.
I'm either doing something wrong when I breathe...or something right...I've always breathed to the right, and my left arm has always been dramatically more powerful. Breathing to the left may be giving my right arm the opportunity to do the right thing - finally, after all these years.
Another data point: last week did some 500LCM, breathing every 2, average pace/100 was 1:46. Did a 1500 today, average pace/100 was 1:42, and my breathing today was predominately 3 with a few 2s thrown in whenever I felt winded.
I'll do the 100 tester set in reverse order as another poster suggested and a few testers breathing only to my bad side as you suggested next trip to the pool. I'll see if I can recruit my old swim coach to scrutinize (probably for about 5 seconds, after which she'll hit me over the head and tell me I should've paid more attention to her years ago).
Thanks to all for your ideas.
____
Eliot
blog thing
BrzilianTri
Jul 8, 09 17:33
Post #28 of 36 (378 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much?
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An intresting article on the subject
http://journals.lww.com/...equencies_on.17.aspx
Jakovljevic, DG and McConnell, AK. Influence of different breathing frequencies on the severity of inspiratory muscle fatigue induced by high-intensity front crawl swimming.
J Strength Cond Res
23(4): 1169-1174, 2009-The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of 2 different breathing frequencies on the magnitude of inspiratory muscle fatigue after high-intensity front crawl swimming. The influence of different breathing frequencies on postexercise blood lactate ([La]) and heart rate (HR) was also examined. Ten collegiate swimmers performed 2 × 200-m front crawl swims at 90% of race pace with the following breathing frequencies: 1) 1 breath every second stroke (B2), and 2) 1 breath every fourth stroke (B4). Maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) was measured at the mouth from residual volume before (baseline) and after swimming, in a standing position. The HR and [La] were assessed at rest and immediately at the cessation of swimming. The PImax decreased by 21% after B4 and by 11% after B2 compared with baseline (
p
< 0.05). The [La] was lower by 15% after B4 than after B2 (
p
< 0.05). The HR was not significantly different between B2 and B4. These data suggest that there is significant global inspiratory muscle fatigue after high-intensity swimming. Inspiratory muscle fatigue is, however, greater when breathing frequency is reduced during high-intensity front crawl swimming. Respiratory muscle training should be used to improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance in swimmers.
monty
Jul 8, 09 18:47
Post #29 of 36 (343 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [BrzilianTri]
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That was a convoluted way to just say if you hold your breath, you will become fatigued faster. I mean ,is there any doubt about this certain fact of life? I don't undrstand why this thread has to pop up every month, if you breath less, you will be out of breath,you will go slower, you will no be the best you can be. If you need to alternate breath becuase you have a defect in your stroke, then fix the stroke, or just live with your handicap. But do not think for one minute that you are at your best by holding your breath.
moulli
Jul 8, 09 21:06
Post #30 of 36 (310 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [monty]
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Sure,
for racing
. But during training minimizing your breathing is a
very
useful drill and diagnostic tool (as the OP has found out).
One way hypoxic training can be used can be compared to running or cycling while maintaining low HR. It helps teach you to be efficient.
monty
Jul 8, 09 21:25
Post #31 of 36 (294 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [moulli]
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Sure,
for racing
.///
Well just about anything you can think of that does not kill/injure you, can be a benifit in training to somebody. 1001 ways to skin that cat, but when talking about racing, most of those options close down, like the one we are talking about here. To get back to the original topic of the OP, what his trial tells me is that he has some stroke work to do, not to get used to holding his breath and swimming slower..
moulli
Jul 8, 09 23:00
Post #32 of 36 (272 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [monty]
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Totally agree. He has stroke problems.
To the OP: IMHO you are most likely over rotating when breathing. This can cause a raft of side effects from a slumping core to catch issues.
ShoMyOFace
Jul 9, 09 4:22
Post #33 of 36 (229 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [renorider]
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Former world class swimmer here: I breath to one side, as do most top male swimmers. It comes down to preference and need. In a pool, breathing every 2 or 4 is ideal, and there are no negatives. As far as open water swims, then it comes down to your efficiancy of stroke, breathing to one side may cause you to swim crooked, and thus not in straight line, so bi-lateral may be a benefit. Trial and error will tell. I have never had shoulder problems caused by breathing to one side, as others may indicate the potential of not breathing bi-laterally. I do, however, have a greater flexibility in my neck on the side I breath.
“I’m thinking I might take that new chick from logistics. If things go well, I might be showing her my “O” face…..you know what I’m talking about………” - Drew “Office Space”
jaretj
Jul 9, 09 5:24
Post #34 of 36 (200 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [renorider]
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I notice that I keep my left elbow higher when I breathe bilateral.
I've been swimming 2 to 3 breaths to the right then 1 to the left lately. That will get me enough air if necessary.
jaretj
2010 Races:
Triple T
Long Course Nationals
http://jaretj.blogspot.com
justfast
Jul 9, 09 5:46
Post #35 of 36 (192 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [need4speed]
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Top 20% swimmer here (not great but pretty good and still improving). Being able to breath equally well on both sides without suffering a loss of speed is a huge advantage in racing. You can easily switch to see things on each side, how many people are around you, etc... Also as you lift your head slightly to sight once every 10 strokes or so, you don't end up stressing the muscles on one side of your neck more than the other. I did bilateral breathing for a long time (every 3) but now I breath every 2 strokes for 4 or 5 strokes, then skip a breath and switch to breathing on the other side for 4 or 5 strokes. In a race I switch sides more like every 10. I find the extra air helps me go faster -- my times when breathing every 3 are a little slower and I don't have enough air to sprint.
Again, as others have said here the main reason to be able to breath on both sides is to train your body to be equally fast and efficient regardless of where you take a breath. In actuality you will always favor one side a little more than the other but with practice this can be minimized.
I agree here. Nice answer... Thoughtful and helpful to the OP.
"Ma... the meatloaf!!"
STP
Jul 9, 09 5:47
Post #36 of 36 (191 views)
Re: Fish: Why does alternate breathing help so much? [renorider]
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Bilateral breathing is mostly a tactical tool. It lets you keep an eye on your competition, see the pace clock, navigate etc. It is a valuable tool, but it is rarely done at the elite level for "balancing" out the stroke to go faster. For really good swimmers, breathing is basically a non event in their stroke mechanics. If changing your breathing pattern slows you down or speeds you up, it means your stroke is screwed up, not that you were previously breathing at the "wrong" interval.
Like virtually everything else in swimming, someone sees Olympian X switch breathing sides during a race (so he/she can keep an eye on Olympian Y 3 lanes over or catch his splits on the scoreboard) and puts 2 and 2 together and gets 5. "They breath on both sides sometimes so it must be because it makes them go faster, therefore, I will do it too."
There are good reasons to learn how to breath on both sides but if changing your breathing changes your speed, you need to look at your stroke to figure out why and fix it so you can go faster still.
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