I was wondering if I should be taking as deep a breath as I can (from the diaphragm) or take more normal breaths. What I mean is that although my breathing is improving, I still find myself short of breath very quickly. I've paid so much attention to exhaling (I do it both nasally and orally) and not stacking breaths, but I wonder if taking a deep breath causes me to stack breaths even if I'm not realizing it. If I take a deep breath, obviously I would have to exhale faster unless I go more strokes between breaths. Maybe I'm not mastering coordinating the rate of exhalation with the interval between breaths? I am trying to relax, I'm breathing with the rotation of my body and think I'm pretty flat/balanced. But I'm getting that air hunger so quickly.
One other question. I assume I should be exhaling right up until the millisecond I take that breath, is that correct? I figure that breathing out through my nose until that exact moment helps keep water out of the nose when I breathe in.
Thanks.
Former Member
Don't know if one really has time to take a deep inhale on the breath. As soon as your face starts to clear the water, you need to inhale in a quick-controlled manner and get your face back in the water as soon as possible.
You maybe exhalling too much too soon. The exhale needs to be a controlled outlet of the CO2. The exhale should be finished by one last push of it out, right before the lips break the water surface to inhale.
If you are still winded, you maybe exhalling too much too fast. Play with the rate at which you do exhale and see if by slowing it down and being more controlled you feel better.
taruky,
I think experimentation is key here. I will share what I do, and maybe it will give you something to try.
I exhale out both my mouth and nose just like you do. I only exhale the amount of air that I actually plan on inhaling. This is typically between a third and a half of a deep breath for me. During a sprint or hard breath control drills, it will be much closer to a full deep breath.
The time I take to inhale my breath is close to constant. An easy pace breathing every third or every other stroke, will be an easy breath. During a sprint, my inhale will be nearly a gasp, sucking down air as fast as possible.
It is possible that your body is just going through a state of adjustment, and this problem will resolve itself in a week or two of regular swimming.
