Hi all,
I've been following the USMS forums for a while now and just registered. I swam USMS in grad school as a 24 year old and now swim masters (age group B!) in South America. I love swimming down here but most coaches are about 10 years behind in technique/innovation, so I basically rely on friends who are coaches in the US and swim sites to stay up to date.
It's pretty obvious that elite mid and long-distance swimmers breathe every cycle now, but have any of you forced yourselves to break a 3-5 habit and start to breathe every 2? I was taught to ALWAYS breathe every 3-5 and after 20-some years of that, I'm wondering if it's worth it in a race (specifically 200, 400/500). FWIW, I have major rotator cuff problems (who doesn't?!) with my right shoulder and seem to extend less with my right side than my left and am concerned breathing every cycle in practice would make that worse.
I agree with GaryP...the more air the better. And, I just like to breathe as needed. I've been swimming for almost 35 years and essentially always been a bi-lat breather. But I do it a little differently than most (I think). Depending on how hard I'm going, or just how I feel...I may breathe two consecutive strokes on left, then two consecutive on the right, etc. OR...I might to three left, three right. Maybe even alternating lengths and sides like swimspire. Sometimes right before I flip at the end of a I might take a quick left and right breath on consecutive strokes...more air to get me through the turn/push-off/glide.
Dan
I agree with GaryP...the more air the better. And, I just like to breathe as needed. I've been swimming for almost 35 years and essentially always been a bi-lat breather. But I do it a little differently than most (I think). Depending on how hard I'm going, or just how I feel...I may breathe two consecutive strokes on left, then two consecutive on the right, etc. OR...I might to three left, three right. Maybe even alternating lengths and sides like swimspire. Sometimes right before I flip at the end of a I might take a quick left and right breath on consecutive strokes...more air to get me through the turn/push-off/glide.
Dan
