I am by no means a natural backstroker (my backstroke is my slowest stroke by a good 2-3 seconds per 50m). I have now twice swum a 5K open water swim breaststroke and have decided to do the same swim next year backstroke. (Why? because I can't yet swim a 5K fly and freestyle bores me. :)
So...
1. When I swim back, I find I want to breathe in time with my arms. I generally breathe out every time an arm hits the water. This obviously leads to a nearly panting breathing rhythm. I am a musician in my spare time and find that breathing at a natural rhythm in my backstroke makes my arms want to line up with that rhythm (thereby getting slower). How do backstrokers breathe, anyhow?
2. What should the pull be like underwater?
3. What one thing is likely to improve my speed? (I know you haven't seen me swim backstroke, but picture a graduate of a typical 'learn to swim' program and you're pretty much accurate. :)
Thanks,
Heather, wannabe backstroker (up to 800m continuous backstroke)
Parents
Former Member
Hi,
OK on the breathing, you should have completely exhaled all your breath by the time you finish your pull by/past your hips and breathe on the roll to the other side. Oh yea, breathing in back --and maybe swimming is a bit odd. In through the mouth out the nose --and it's paced out the nose not one long breath out, more like 3-6 short relaxed exhales (depending on one's lung capacity I suppose).
Head back. Basic secret that everyone forgets or minimizes the importance of this... Raises the hips more that the slight arch of the back.
The kick is the strongest part of the stroke it's the thing that propels you forward and side to side. There is quite a bit of postings in here that can offer assistance.
Here is my question. A 5K back sounds great, is it outside open swimming? How do you intend to maintain direction since most new backstrokers have this common skill in the elementary stage, mostly due to crossing the midline of the body when pulling... If it's indoors rock on!
Hi,
OK on the breathing, you should have completely exhaled all your breath by the time you finish your pull by/past your hips and breathe on the roll to the other side. Oh yea, breathing in back --and maybe swimming is a bit odd. In through the mouth out the nose --and it's paced out the nose not one long breath out, more like 3-6 short relaxed exhales (depending on one's lung capacity I suppose).
Head back. Basic secret that everyone forgets or minimizes the importance of this... Raises the hips more that the slight arch of the back.
The kick is the strongest part of the stroke it's the thing that propels you forward and side to side. There is quite a bit of postings in here that can offer assistance.
Here is my question. A 5K back sounds great, is it outside open swimming? How do you intend to maintain direction since most new backstrokers have this common skill in the elementary stage, mostly due to crossing the midline of the body when pulling... If it's indoors rock on!
