I haven't even posted here much, and feel a bit nervous about starting a new thread! But here goes.
If this subject has been :dedhorse: please point me in the direction of where (and how) to find old threads.
I have taught myself to bilateral breathe for a couple of reasons -- one, it helps my form to balance on each side, and two it will help in any OW swims in triathlons I do.
On another forum that I belong to, there is discussion of uni vs. bilateral breathing when swimming for speed. Now, I will NEVER in my lifetime set or even meet any speed records :rofl: ! But it might be nice to finish my yardages a little quicker. Since the other forum is of lesser swim skill, I pose the question to you here. The observation seems to have been made that bilateral breathing is used for slower workouts and to work on technique, but when racing and speed work, most if not all breathe unilaterally on their preferred side.
Is there truth to this observation, and are there other tips about breathing technique that you might have to offer.
Thanks,
Nancy
When racing I think there's all kinds of advice. Although, I think most of that advice is based on the idea that you swim balanced whenever you are not going close to or at race pace. I think most people would suggest that as you practice the greater percent (I would personally say 90-100%) of your time should be spent with breathing equally on each side. Then when you pick up the pace for true speed work and racing when you breathe can vary.
I guess what I am hearing from your post is your questioning the idea that breathing every full stroke will make you go faster even if you are not racing. When I think in fact it comes the other way around, when you push harder and faster you will need to breathe more often.
All other things being equal, I think a swimmer who breathes bi-laterally (preferably at least every 3) in practice will be faster than a swimmer who breathes uni-laterally in practice when these imaginary people go to race. The person who breathes at most every three in practice will have greater endurance from breathe control gained in practice and better balance than the every two swimmer. Even if that every 2 swimmer does right arm down, left arm back.
I guess what I am saying is don't breathe every 2 just to go faster doing the bulk of your workout. I'm not sure if that's what you were trying to ask or not by your last post.
When racing I think there's all kinds of advice. Although, I think most of that advice is based on the idea that you swim balanced whenever you are not going close to or at race pace. I think most people would suggest that as you practice the greater percent (I would personally say 90-100%) of your time should be spent with breathing equally on each side. Then when you pick up the pace for true speed work and racing when you breathe can vary.
I guess what I am hearing from your post is your questioning the idea that breathing every full stroke will make you go faster even if you are not racing. When I think in fact it comes the other way around, when you push harder and faster you will need to breathe more often.
All other things being equal, I think a swimmer who breathes bi-laterally (preferably at least every 3) in practice will be faster than a swimmer who breathes uni-laterally in practice when these imaginary people go to race. The person who breathes at most every three in practice will have greater endurance from breathe control gained in practice and better balance than the every two swimmer. Even if that every 2 swimmer does right arm down, left arm back.
I guess what I am saying is don't breathe every 2 just to go faster doing the bulk of your workout. I'm not sure if that's what you were trying to ask or not by your last post.
