How often do you breathe in an open water triathlon swim versus a 1500 meter race in the pool? I recently watched the professional San Diego ITU triathlon and noticed that the athletes tend to breathe quite frequently. Is this the norm? Am I putting myself at a disadvantage by not breathing as frequently?
The problem is you have to lift your head to sight. How often do good OW swimmers lift their heads to sight?
Depends on the length of the race, and the situation.
For example in a one mile open water swim if someone is swimming in an aggressive pack, you'll see them sight every 6 armstrokes (3 cycles). You'll also see them sight more often as turns get closer and if the course has lots of turns in it.
On longer, unescorted swims, something like a 5k or 10k if drafting is not an issue, then up to every 20 strokes or ten cycles.
If you are trying to stay with someone and draft then you need to sight more often make sure you are staying with the pack. Also you need to know if the person your are right behind is keeping contact with the pack as well, if he loses contact, then you just lost contact as well.
The problem is you have to lift your head to sight. How often do good OW swimmers lift their heads to sight?
Depends on the length of the race, and the situation.
For example in a one mile open water swim if someone is swimming in an aggressive pack, you'll see them sight every 6 armstrokes (3 cycles). You'll also see them sight more often as turns get closer and if the course has lots of turns in it.
On longer, unescorted swims, something like a 5k or 10k if drafting is not an issue, then up to every 20 strokes or ten cycles.
If you are trying to stay with someone and draft then you need to sight more often make sure you are staying with the pack. Also you need to know if the person your are right behind is keeping contact with the pack as well, if he loses contact, then you just lost contact as well.
