Breathing 101 and 102 · EnduranceworX

Breathing 101 and 102

Last night we were filming 7 swimmers for Glasgow Triathlon club Perform 26. Swimmers were mixed ability from beginners to mid pack. 4 had breathing issues. The tells seen by the eye. Excessive head turn with a gasping on inhale. Rushing the inbreath in a panicked way.

First little tip was to slow down and relax and allow the timing of the breathing to mirror the stroke rate. Breathing every 2 or 3 makes no difference. The key is to get rid of spent air by exhaling under the water. So on 3 strokes its exhale, exhale, inhale..so slowing down and doing this in a relaxed way takes the panic reaction down. Almost yogic.

On a 2 stroke pattern it's out in but the exhale has to be more forceful. If not the lungs stay more full of spent gas meaning less new air can be inhaled resulting in a shortage of oxygen to be had.

I like to use music as a prompt. For the easy relaxed dial in thing the Blue Danube waltz. For faster swimming think Techno.

The key thing about increasing the beat is to increase the speed of the rotation..not the speed of the underwater propulsive phase..there lies 'slipping the water'

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