I've been reading past posts and threads on breathing bilaterally. We have a wealth of information here on the pros and cons. I've decided I want to breathe to both sides, but am having some problems getting there.
When I'm fresh, I think I'm doing ok. I feel like I'm rolling enough that I'm not turning my head too much and grabbing a nice breath, weak and strong side alike.
When I begin to tire, my weak side breathing falls apart. I feel like I'm sinking - I know I am, because I'm lifting my head up to catch a quick unsatisfying breath that's half water. I can feel that my arm is dropping as I'm pushing my head out of the water. I know my hips are sinking too: I noticed when I did a short set with a pull-bouy today after tiring, I felt like I had all the time in the world to breath on my weak side.
I would like your thoughts on (1) what is breaking down on me, where the weaknesses are and (2) other than keeping at it with the hopes of getting stronger, is there anything specifically I can attend to or any drills to help me isolate the problems.
Even if you just tell me that the struglle is all part of the process, I'll be grateful for any feedback you can provide. Many thanks - Barb
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Former Member
I keep getting spasms in my rhomboid muscles on my "strong" side.
I'm hopelessly a R-sided breather and have a slow stroke rate so I have been doing a few hundred strictly L-side rather than trying to go every 3rd and not get my accustomed air supply. It makes it a little easier. Still - it is extremely unnatural and I wonder if I am just plumbed different. Even focusing on complete exhales & relaxing, I don't feel like I get a full breath or get proper accelleration on my pull or stay aligned. It takes an awful lot out of the all-important joy-of-swimming.
Right now I am "down" also due to soreness/spasm in the upper back on my "good" side. It hurts a lot to breathe deeply, tuck my chin, turn my head, roll over in bed, etc. I had been out of the water for a few weeks and in my first workout back I "only" swam 1800y at a cruise pace, and half of that was non-free (the rest was IM / Back), 1200 with fins. I was trying to figure out if it was the rhomboids and that seems likely. Boy, that never used to happen "in the old days".
I keep getting spasms in my rhomboid muscles on my "strong" side.
I'm hopelessly a R-sided breather and have a slow stroke rate so I have been doing a few hundred strictly L-side rather than trying to go every 3rd and not get my accustomed air supply. It makes it a little easier. Still - it is extremely unnatural and I wonder if I am just plumbed different. Even focusing on complete exhales & relaxing, I don't feel like I get a full breath or get proper accelleration on my pull or stay aligned. It takes an awful lot out of the all-important joy-of-swimming.
Right now I am "down" also due to soreness/spasm in the upper back on my "good" side. It hurts a lot to breathe deeply, tuck my chin, turn my head, roll over in bed, etc. I had been out of the water for a few weeks and in my first workout back I "only" swam 1800y at a cruise pace, and half of that was non-free (the rest was IM / Back), 1200 with fins. I was trying to figure out if it was the rhomboids and that seems likely. Boy, that never used to happen "in the old days".
