IM - Breaststroke breathing

I've been working really hard on my 100 IM. I'm a relatively new swimmer and want to improve my times as much as possible before my first ever swim meet this February. My (perceived) biggest problem in the 100 IM is getting comfortable on the breaststroke leg. After two SDK to start the fly and back I do feel i get my breath under control by the end of the backstroke, but really struggle to get a nice pull out. Sometimes, I even abandoned the pull out and surface straight into the stroke. Then, once I get into the stroke, I feel like I am breathing too often, but not getting any air - almost like hyperventilating. Does this mean I am going out too hard on fly and/or back. Any drills, sets, focuses to work on to help this? Thanks for any suggestions. Do kick sets of SDK, on your back and on your stomach. I personally prefer no board b/c you get the feel of the required undulation. On my back I'll go half a lap or more and then flutter kick to the wall. On my stomach, 5-6 sdk off the wall, surface one arm fly and then lunge down underwater for 3-5 sdk's. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Start off w/ 25's and build into 50's. Also, in workout make sure you do 4-5 sdk's per lap in fly and back. This way when you get into a race and do 2 sdk's for fly and back, it seems like nothing! By focusing on SDK's, you are preparing your body and mind for those 4 sdk's in the first half of your 100IM. More importantly, you're working your core, which is good for your overall swimming. You've received some excellent advice from some truly amazing swimmers. :bow: Pay attention to the sprinting advice. Do sprint 100IM w/ plenty of rest. Also do 50's stroke combos: fly/back, back/***, ***/free, free/fly. Try doing 8 on the :50 or :55 (focusing on decent stroke and building endurance), then add 10 seconds rest and really focus on stroke, and then finish off w/ 4 or 8 on 1:15 or 1:30 where you're focusing on speed. BTW, most triathletes would kill for your times. You are NOT a slow swimmer!

I've been working really hard on my 100 IM. I'm a relatively new swimmer and want to improve my times as much as possible before my first ever swim meet this February. My (perceived) biggest problem in the 100 IM is getting comfortable on the breaststroke leg. After two SDK to start the fly and back I do feel i get my breath under control by the end of the backstroke, but really struggle to get a nice pull out. Sometimes, I even abandoned the pull out and surface straight into the stroke. Then, once I get into the stroke, I feel like I am breathing too often, but not getting any air - almost like hyperventilating. Does this mean I am going out too hard on fly and/or back. Any drills, sets, focuses to work on to help this? Thanks for any suggestions. Do kick sets of SDK, on your back and on your stomach. I personally prefer no board b/c you get the feel of the required undulation. On my back I'll go half a lap or more and then flutter kick to the wall. On my stomach, 5-6 sdk off the wall, surface one arm fly and then lunge down underwater for 3-5 sdk's. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Start off w/ 25's and build into 50's. Also, in workout make sure you do 4-5 sdk's per lap in fly and back. This way when you get into a race and do 2 sdk's for fly and back, it seems like nothing! By focusing on SDK's, you are preparing your body and mind for those 4 sdk's in the first half of your 100IM. More importantly, you're working your core, which is good for your overall swimming. You've received some excellent advice from some truly amazing swimmers. :bow: Pay attention to the sprinting advice. Do sprint 100IM w/ plenty of rest. Also do 50's stroke combos: fly/back, back/***, ***/free, free/fly. Try doing 8 on the :50 or :55 (focusing on decent stroke and building endurance), then add 10 seconds rest and really focus on stroke, and then finish off w/ 4 or 8 on 1:15 or 1:30 where you're focusing on speed. BTW, most triathletes would kill for your times. You are NOT a slow swimmer!