I'm a guy in my early 30s and I swim laps mostly for fitness and to challenge myself, and to also build stamina so I can take surf lessons in a few months. I was wondering how good breath control sets are for improving your fitness and stamina in the water. I do sets where I breath once every 2-4-6-4-2 every 50 yards with up to 30 seconds rest between each rep, and it makes me feel challenged and gets my adrenaline going but it doesn't give me any bad effects afterwards (it just feels like an enjoyable hard swim but nothing excessive). I know some say breath control sets are bad, but I've also read that they are great for building stamina even if you play a different sport, and that they promote the production of hemoglobin and mitochondria. Assuming its a good (or at least not a bad) way to build stamina and challenge yourself, once I'm ready to step it up, what is the most strokes per breath I should max out at during workouts? Also, is it better to breathe once every x number of strokes, or to just breathe x numbers of times per length?
If you like breath control sets it might be better to alternate side breathe to get those benefits. Breathe 3 or 5 for a limited number of reps and sets to help with swim technique and for racing. A limited number of sets in some practices seems to benefit my training. Although, I'm a firm believer in in breathe when you need to.
I've surfed for 50 years now (I'm not all that good, but love it), up and down the east coast, under storm and normal conditions, and have never been underwater for more than about 5-10 seconds before popping up; it is usually less than 5 seconds even if I'm waiting for the wave to pass. (I understand that Big Wave toe-in surfing in Hawaii Jaws, Pipeline) or Cali (Mavericks) is completely another story - but I'm not doing that and doubt you will either, unless you spend a lot of time at it and become really good). I think the bigger breathing issue when surfing is the location of the next wave when you pop up i.e., is it going to crash on you when you surface to breathe. Also, when you come up to breathe, is there another surfer coming at you. Relaxing after a fall and waiting underwater to come back to the surface also seems important to me.
If you like breath control sets it might be better to alternate side breathe to get those benefits. Breathe 3 or 5 for a limited number of reps and sets to help with swim technique and for racing. A limited number of sets in some practices seems to benefit my training. Although, I'm a firm believer in in breathe when you need to.
I've surfed for 50 years now (I'm not all that good, but love it), up and down the east coast, under storm and normal conditions, and have never been underwater for more than about 5-10 seconds before popping up; it is usually less than 5 seconds even if I'm waiting for the wave to pass. (I understand that Big Wave toe-in surfing in Hawaii Jaws, Pipeline) or Cali (Mavericks) is completely another story - but I'm not doing that and doubt you will either, unless you spend a lot of time at it and become really good). I think the bigger breathing issue when surfing is the location of the next wave when you pop up i.e., is it going to crash on you when you surface to breathe. Also, when you come up to breathe, is there another surfer coming at you. Relaxing after a fall and waiting underwater to come back to the surface also seems important to me.
