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)
Heather,
Your question on breathing during backstroke is really important. I believe a lot of people who do not like backstroke (besides not being able to see where you are going) do not have the breathing correct. As a kid, I never liked to backstroke and always had trouble on an IM when I got to my two best strokes because the backstroke killed me. When I was coaching 10 and under kids at about the same time I started swimming Masters, I realized that I held my breath and gulped air. When I started making myself breathe in on one armstroke and out on the other, backstroke became easy. It is now my favorite and most consistent stroke.
Betsy
Heather,
Your question on breathing during backstroke is really important. I believe a lot of people who do not like backstroke (besides not being able to see where you are going) do not have the breathing correct. As a kid, I never liked to backstroke and always had trouble on an IM when I got to my two best strokes because the backstroke killed me. When I was coaching 10 and under kids at about the same time I started swimming Masters, I realized that I held my breath and gulped air. When I started making myself breathe in on one armstroke and out on the other, backstroke became easy. It is now my favorite and most consistent stroke.
Betsy
