I never learned how to and now when I try it makes me very dizzy and is uncomfortable to swim. So I swim *** and back stroke and I'm happy in the pool. BUT, I have been asked by an OW swimmer who why I don't try swimming an OW event. I have the endurance for maybe 1 mile(I swim 2 miles av. per workout), but I would be mortified to be the only *** stroke swimmer. So, are there any OW swimmers out there that don't swim free but still participate in events?
From what I've seen, OW swimming is just a lot more agressive and there is a lot of tactic involved.
Among those who are swimming to win something, your characterization has some truth. Among those who are swimming for some other main reason, which is where you'll be if you are doing the whole thing breaststroke, I don't think you'll have any difficulty with other people's "tactics." You might have some people near you who zig-zag around or hit you because they are so clueless, but you'll have the heads-up advantage for avoiding them.
So, the best approach was actually to swim almost 90 degrees away from the finish for the first quarter of the race. It got me into the center of the current faster and led to a faster swim.
That said, you should start out with something without a lot of current--like a lake swim--though I don't think that current would affect a breaststroker much more than someone swimming freestyle.
This is actually one of the things I have concerns about.I've developed a stroke that has a fairly long glide-or otherwise I just wouldn't last the distance I tend to want to swim.I've noticed that I have a harder time correcting my direction than those who swim free.
There was a ***-stroker in a race I was in last summer. She wasn't fast, but she did finish the 2.5k event.
If you get dizzy swimming freestyle, it could be from holding your breath, or breathing too little or too often. It could also be Benign Paroxymal Positional Vertigo, a fairly common affliction in which little chunks of calcium break off in the spiral balance chamber of the inner ear and start knocking around, giving that stuck-in-a-falling-dream feeling when you roll from side to side.
I had a neck injury as a teen so maybe this is a result?
With all this encouragement I will give it a try this summer.I will have the oportunity to swim in Europes largest fresh water lake-a place I learned to swim as a kid and I know the water is calm enough.If I'm not to freaked out by the wildlife I will look for some lake swims state side.
Nothing wrong with EvilStroke in OW - the more the merrier. In fact, in England many of their OW races have an EvilStroke division.
Since you are in PA & fairly close to me, I strongly urge you to consider the Lehigh River Swim in Allentown. It's a fun race. Since it's with the current (NOT a fast current), you will have no problem finishing using breaststroke. Here's the link to LAST YEAR'S entry info - I couldn't find one for this year. Other than the date, all the details will probably be the same:
maswim.org/.../EmacJuly River Swim.pdf
Another superb race that would be easy for you to get to and do (this is 2010 info):
www.ymca-ywca-of-hazleton.org/.../race.htm
They have 200 yd, 500 yd, 1 mile and 2 mile races. It's a lake swim and in a very pretty setting and it's also very laid-back. Not a lot of adults competing. The 1 & 2 mile are started concurrently, but everything else is started separately. If you wanted to do the mile, you'd likely finish long before the last 2 miler. You could also do the 200 & 500 as well. (I did the 200, 500 and 2 miles last year and the year before. Fun, if painful.)
Go for it!
-LBJ
