Since I started swimming 5 months ago I have been steadily improving my times.Well, with that ame some other problems.I timed myself on a 50 SCM the other day and I am at 30.5(from a push-off).The problem is that whenever I tried to breathe(which I only did a couple of times on a 50) when going all out at a sprint pace I was gulping water.It was as if I was lifting my head to breathe and there was still a wall of water there.I hardly got any air because of that.Whereas when I swim at 100 m pace(about 34-35 sec. per 50)I have no problem breathing, it atuaaly feels very good, I raise my head just enough to get my air and I do not get any water in my mouth.At a sprint pace it is like breathing water.So I was wondering if anyone ever experienced that kind of problem and what causes it?I was thinking that maybe I lose some body roll when sprinting or something and not get my head out of the water enough, or because I obviously swim a little differently when sprinting vs. slower pace(more strokes - less front quadrant swimming there ) or are there just too many splashes when I go all out and smack that water vigorously?
Anyways, any suggestions will be appreiated,
Thanks.
P.S.
I just fear to imagine what I am going to have to experiene when going a 25 se. 50 or less(hope I will be able to do that some day)
Former Member
Sounds like you are thrashing at sprint pace.
Consider this: do a few 50s at a 40 second pace. Then a few more at 37. Then some at 34. Then some at 32.
Try to maintain the same form as you speed up. Don't make the leap from 40 to 30 for a while without doing the interim times in between. You have "the feel" of the water at 40 and 35, but lose it at 30. Work down to 30 in steps and keep "the feel" along the way.
It won't happen overnight. Be patient.
Without being able to see your stroke it’s tough to diagnose why you are gulping water. From you explanation, I would say the problem is that you are lifting your head to breath, instead of just rotating your head. And when you turn your head to breathe while sprinting you should not be rotating your head any more than when swimming distance, in fact you may notice that you don’t need to rotate as much due to the bow wake created off your head.
When I lay the hammer down, splash form my opposite arm goes into my mouth when I breathe. If I am breathing to the left then splash from my right arm entry gets in my mouth. Doesn't preclude breathing, just makes it more interesting.
