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 certainly think there's value in breathing less in certain sets at practice and I agree that it makes zero sense to breathe every 5 during a race over 100, it's like shooting yourself in the foot (or the lung?) from the start. Calling it 'stupid' is just a less polite way of saying 'zero sense' and there's really no argument there! I wasn't asking about breathing from a hypoxic/aerobic argument, but more of a balance/efficiency argument. After reading all of your replies, I'll work on breathing every 2 to both sides and see how each affects my rotation and shoulder.
Swimspire, don't worry, I also work with a trainer who has developed a workout specifically for my rotator cuff issues :) I'm a big fan of Finis's agility paddles too, which keep me from nursing my bad shoulder and falling into bad technique.
I certainly think there's value in breathing less in certain sets at practice and I agree that it makes zero sense to breathe every 5 during a race over 100, it's like shooting yourself in the foot (or the lung?) from the start. Calling it 'stupid' is just a less polite way of saying 'zero sense' and there's really no argument there! I wasn't asking about breathing from a hypoxic/aerobic argument, but more of a balance/efficiency argument. After reading all of your replies, I'll work on breathing every 2 to both sides and see how each affects my rotation and shoulder.
Swimspire, don't worry, I also work with a trainer who has developed a workout specifically for my rotator cuff issues :) I'm a big fan of Finis's agility paddles too, which keep me from nursing my bad shoulder and falling into bad technique.
