Distance Freestyle Breathing

In races, I breathe every stroke (to the right). Gotta get the air. Any less and I slow down. In training, I'll maintain some form of bilateral breathing - like PB's pattern.

David, Good question and I've noticed the same ... except I'd say their breathing pattern is every 2 strokes (e.g., always breathe to the left or to the right). I grew up a distance swimmer training to breathe every 3 strokes as a classic bilateral pattern. Nowadays I do some variant of a 2-2-3-2-3-2, etc. pattern (e.g., breathe R,R,L,L,R,R, etc.). This seems to allow me to get more air and keep the bilateral component that I feel I need for stroke balance. In short course meters, my aim was to breath 2 to the right, then 3 or 4 to the left and that would take me through a lap. In swimming long course, I'll be more likely to do 4 breaths consistently to the same side before doing a 3 stroke count to then switch to breathe to the other side. I'm still stronger breathing to the left side, so I always have a little imbalance and breathe more to that side. The trick is to find the mix that works best for you.

I think it depends on your turnover rate too. Mine is slow; and I feel air-deprived if I'm not breathing every right pull when trying to go fast.

I swim every 2nd stroke to the left side. Near the end of my long races, I breathe to the other side here and there. It seems to work for me. When I was growing up, I would breathe 3-2. Elite distance swimmers are in a world of their own. The Italian woman that won the 1500 at Worlds breathes every 2 for a while on left and then changes to the right and breathes every 2.

My unexperienced humble opinion is maybe they breath every stroke rather than every 1.5 strokes (bilateral), as you, because they are going slightly faster and require more O2. Since you are pacing and not requiring as much O2 you end up hyperventilating with a 1per 1 pattern - lightheadedness?

David, I grew up a distance swimmer training to breathe every 3 strokes as a classic bilateral pattern. Nowadays I do some variant of a 2-2-3-2-3-2, etc. pattern (e.g., breathe R,R,L,L,R,R, etc.). This seems to allow me to get more air and keep the bilateral component that I feel I need for stroke balance. Same here, but in my 2nd life as a swimmer (15 years off inbetween) I'm much more a right side only every other breather in distance. I try that same pattern as above since it usually puts me going into the way the same way every lap, breathe to the right into the wall. The original poster should also keep in mind that he comparing himself to elite 1500 swimmers. They have just a "little" over us.

I was personally thinking that the amount of oxygen required would be a function of the effort I'm putting in rather than actual speed. Of course it is. If lightheadedness, rather than any perceived need for balance to avoid fishtailing or shoulder strain or something, is causing you to breathe every 3d rather than every 2d arm, I think the answer is that you are not exhaling forcefully or thoroughly enough.

My unexperienced humble opinion is maybe they breath every stroke rather than every 1.5 strokes (bilateral), as you, because they are going slightly faster and require more O2. Since you are pacing and not requiring as much O2 you end up hyperventilating with a 1per 1 pattern - lightheadedness? This is true and it's been documented this way. However, in certain events (or maybe in all events I don't know), stroke balance isn't something a swimmer wants to achieve. It's also been documented that unilateral breathers use both arms in a slightly different manner. The stroke is not symmetrical. Each arm becomes specialized in its role. Usually, more propulsion comes from the breathing side arm and the non breathing side arm works little differently. A sticking example of this is shown in the clip where Phelps gets beaten on the 200 by this German sensation. On the last 50, Phelps doesn't even breathe (every 2) on the side that would have allowed to see his opponent. Could be a mistake, could also be that he knew he wasn't maybe going to be as fast if switching roles for his 2 arms by breathing the other side. I've suffered this issue for ever. Even today, when I breathe right, I loose half a stroke per 25m (and the time this half a stroke represents), unless I really make more effort keeping DPS constant. (I always count - or at least am aware of my stroke count, hence the fact that I could discover this for myself) That said, I try to work on each side all the time, in almost every set.

This is true and it's been documented this way. How do they measure/document oxygen consumption during swimming? I make these measurements in kids in my pulmonary function lab who are on the treadmill or bike, I can't conceive of a system to do this reliably in the water, either O2 consumption or oxygen saturation. I would love to know how to do this (or who to contact to learn more).

Ok thanks. I was personally thinking that the amount of oxygen required would be a function of the effort I'm putting in rather than actual speed. I'm putting in a lot of effort to maintain 1:40 100s after the first 200 or 300. Or at least it feels that way, the muscles tire a lot. Thanks, David