I am an Age Group and Masters Swim Coach While I am very comfortable working with strong swimmers, sometimes I teach lessons to adults who want to do triathlons and are fairly new to swimming. Every so often, I find a swimmer who has problems breathing. I have already read previous discussions where breathing is a problem and all the suggestions recommend improving stroke technique. I am very aware of the benefits of TI and like to encorporate it whenever I can. I have a very fit runner who now has pretty good stroke technique but after 25 yards is too out of breath to continue. Being a life-long swimmer, and having 8 year old swimmers who can go 1000 yards without problems, I can't fathom how anyone can't "breathe". This sounds very basic but in order to get a good diagnosis, I will try to be very specific. He is exhaling slowly, continuously, and completely through his nose before he rolls to inhale through his mouth. I generally have him breath every 3 strokes, but sometimes vary it and nothing seems to help. Has anyone encountered this and if so, are there better drills than just simple bobs?
Stefan - To cut your strokes per length from 25-30 down to 14-15 is a huge change. I first thought you must be doing a lot of kicking but later you imply otherwise. Are you holding your breath and gliding too long with each armstroke? If you truly went from being able to swim 800 yards without tiring and can now only do 50's and sometimes 100's you have encountered a problem that needs further investigation. Taking fewer strokes per length should be a goal for everyone but should not be done to the detriment of overall efficiency. I hope you will have a coach spend some time with you.
A comment for Reb. I know someone recommended using zoomers but as a poor kicker, I know that swimming with zoomers tires me out significantly and it could cause your swimmer to have more problems with the breathing than before. I suggest you have him swim with pull buoys (no paddles) so his legs can be out of the "equation" and see if his breathing becomes more comfortable. He might find he can "feel" the body roll better as well. I definitely agree with Emmett - exhale through the nose and mouth!
Bi-lateral breathing is excellent for keeping your stroke well balanced and it challenges you a bit more than one sided breathing. But being comfortable in the water and getting a good workout (fitness wise) is very important as well and if bi-lateral breathing doesn't allow your swimmer to do this I would say it is expendable. There are plenty of highly successful swimmers out there who don't bi-lateral breathe.
Stefan - To cut your strokes per length from 25-30 down to 14-15 is a huge change. I first thought you must be doing a lot of kicking but later you imply otherwise. Are you holding your breath and gliding too long with each armstroke? If you truly went from being able to swim 800 yards without tiring and can now only do 50's and sometimes 100's you have encountered a problem that needs further investigation. Taking fewer strokes per length should be a goal for everyone but should not be done to the detriment of overall efficiency. I hope you will have a coach spend some time with you.
A comment for Reb. I know someone recommended using zoomers but as a poor kicker, I know that swimming with zoomers tires me out significantly and it could cause your swimmer to have more problems with the breathing than before. I suggest you have him swim with pull buoys (no paddles) so his legs can be out of the "equation" and see if his breathing becomes more comfortable. He might find he can "feel" the body roll better as well. I definitely agree with Emmett - exhale through the nose and mouth!
Bi-lateral breathing is excellent for keeping your stroke well balanced and it challenges you a bit more than one sided breathing. But being comfortable in the water and getting a good workout (fitness wise) is very important as well and if bi-lateral breathing doesn't allow your swimmer to do this I would say it is expendable. There are plenty of highly successful swimmers out there who don't bi-lateral breathe.
