I was watching the duel in the pool USA v Australia and I have a question, Michael Phelps and many others seem to breath on only one side, I have heard many coaches advocate breathing on both sides for a more balanced stroke, Is it now just a preference or what? Just wondering.
I've tried to breathe bilaterally but I get a terrible stitch-in-the-side cramp when I swim that way. When I say "terrible" I mean by endurance athlete standards. I have a high pain threshold, I can ignore a lot, but this is BAD. I've tried swimming through it and observed in amazement as the pain grows, and grows, and grows... When I go back to breathing to my left, I have no problems, other than an occasionally sore left shoulder. Does this confirm defect(s) in my stroke technique? Sure, but... aahhh I don't care.
I've tried to breathe bilaterally but I get a terrible stitch-in-the-side cramp when I swim that way. When I say "terrible" I mean by endurance athlete standards. I have a high pain threshold, I can ignore a lot, but this is BAD. I've tried swimming through it and observed in amazement as the pain grows, and grows, and grows... When I go back to breathing to my left, I have no problems, other than an occasionally sore left shoulder. Does this confirm defect(s) in my stroke technique? Sure, but... aahhh I don't care.
