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)
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Former Member
I looked up the URL and then typed it wrong. Gah!
I edited my original post. Thanks. :)
Now that my backstroke breathing is beginning to come under control, how do I swim back faster? I take about 1:00 for a 50m back when I do it in a distance set, and can maintain that for 900m. If I do just a 50m back, it's about 51 seconds. It's slower than my breaststroke!
Thanks,
Heather
I looked up the URL and then typed it wrong. Gah!
I edited my original post. Thanks. :)
Now that my backstroke breathing is beginning to come under control, how do I swim back faster? I take about 1:00 for a 50m back when I do it in a distance set, and can maintain that for 900m. If I do just a 50m back, it's about 51 seconds. It's slower than my breaststroke!
Thanks,
Heather
