On freestyle, I generally try to breathe bi-laterally every 3 strokes, and begin my exhale as soon as my head enters the water.
However, sometimes when I am doing sprints or laps with little rest in between, I find myself holding my breath instead of beginning the exhale immediately. When I do this it feels that my body is able to get more oxygen.
Its seems like my body is craving oxygen, and beginning the exhale immediately gets rid of some of that precious oxygen before I have a chance to process it.
Of course, I realize that delaying the start of my exhale means that I will get able to get more fresh air on the next inhalation, unless I can manage to get rid of all my air very quickly (which seems impossible).
So is it best to just force myself to keep the same breathing pattern (every 3 strokes with exhale starting immediately), even when I am feeling tired or out of oxygen? Or are there times when it is safe, or even better, to hold my breath for at least a second before beginning the exhalation? Maybe at the end of a race (or timed lap)?
The question is do lungs obtain more O2 when breath is held prior to exchange, or slowly exhaled if rate and volume are the same?
My guess is slowly exhaling allows a greater proportion of O2 to come in contact with surfaces, but there's probably more variables. Must be an article on some kind of study relating to this.
The question is do lungs obtain more O2 when breath is held prior to exchange, or slowly exhaled if rate and volume are the same?
My guess is slowly exhaling allows a greater proportion of O2 to come in contact with surfaces, but there's probably more variables. Must be an article on some kind of study relating to this.
