When I googled 'freestyle "breathing pattern"' today, I came across this story:
www.paloaltoonline.com/.../2000_Jun_28.SWIMMING.html
The story is inspiring. It talks about how Dara Torres, at the age of 33, set an American record in the women's 50 meter freestyle in the summer of 2000.
Beside her "old age", an interesting aspect of the story was that she changed her usual breathing pattern for the race. Instead of taking just two or three breaths the entire race, she breathed every three strokes to prevent oxygen debt at the end, because she has asthma.
This is the first time that I have ever heard of someone breaking a record or getting a really fast time by breathing frequently in a 50 meter freestyle race.
A couple of nights ago, I watched Canada's Brett Hayden win a silver medal in the 50 free at the commonwealth games. I'm not sure how many breaths he took, but he did say in the interview afterwards that he did not take any breaths in the last 20 meters. So I think he probably took 2 or 3 breaths.
This got me to wondering, "what is the ideal number of breaths to take in a 50 meter freestyle race?" I have heard that most people take 2 or 3 breaths. I usually take 3. What about you guys? Also, what is your breathing pattern for the 100 meter free?
It was once thought that running the 400m sprint (which takes an elite runner 45 seconds) was 95 percent anaeobic and 5% aerobic. It has been shown more recently to take more than 20%. For even shorter performances, like the 200 meter (elite = 20 sec.), the aerobic energy system is resposible for at least 10-20%.
Not in a million years does a runner run the 200m without considerable breathing. Why then would someone swim for 20-30 seconds with only a few breaths?
Maybe the elite swimmers take no breaths because the slight breakdown in form is more costly? More so than in running.
I submit that masters should experiment in practice. I don't think there is a clear answer. Don't just do what the elite guys do, you may be able to improve through experimentation.
It was once thought that running the 400m sprint (which takes an elite runner 45 seconds) was 95 percent anaeobic and 5% aerobic. It has been shown more recently to take more than 20%. For even shorter performances, like the 200 meter (elite = 20 sec.), the aerobic energy system is resposible for at least 10-20%.
Not in a million years does a runner run the 200m without considerable breathing. Why then would someone swim for 20-30 seconds with only a few breaths?
Maybe the elite swimmers take no breaths because the slight breakdown in form is more costly? More so than in running.
I submit that masters should experiment in practice. I don't think there is a clear answer. Don't just do what the elite guys do, you may be able to improve through experimentation.
