Swimming: How Many Strokes Should I Take Before Breathing? | GTN Coach's Corner

Steven Nah

2023-01-07 23:32:33

I personally think that I prefer to take a breath every 3 strokes

elena i

2022-12-08 02:30:21

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I am going to IM Texas next year and it is a windy hot and humid race. What can I do to train for the windy, hot and humid conditions?

Emma G

2022-12-06 18:12:56

Thanks for answering my question. Will definitely get those accessories you mentioned, they’ll be much cheaper than a new wetsuit too! 👍

Mathias Lorenzen

2022-12-06 11:13:19

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Do you have Any tips for every Day nutrition for a time crunched athlete? I found it difficult to know if I've had enough fuel and enough of the "right" nutritions

alain freedom

2022-12-06 06:04:54

Mortality rate From 8/1000 to 40/1000 - So all fazzed gone in less than 20 years

robohippy

2022-12-06 06:03:25

Well for the tumble turns, I will have to check out the GTN video, don't know if I have seen it or not. In all of the turn videos I have watched, there are so many little tips and tricks, but no video has all of them, or even most of them. They cover a few main points and don't talk about the rest of them. May have to do my own some day. Once you learn all the tricks, the tumble turn if far more efficient than the open turn.

As for breathing, I have never been able to swim more than about 100 yards breathing every 3rd stroke. I run out of air. From Gary Hall at the Race Club, some thing that surprised me, is that men and women burn and process oxygen differently as well as the lactic acid build up. If you watch the breathing patterns of the Olympic swimmers, ALL of the men breath every other stroke. Only exception is the 50 meter sprint where they only take the breath off the starting board. With the women, most interesting comparison is Katie Ledecky and Arierne Titmus. Katie breathes every other stroke, and Arierne breaths on a 2, 2, 4 pattern. My guess as to why Katie wins in distances over 400 yards is because Arierne is running out of oxygen or has oxygen debt. The idea of being in the pool and swimming one length breathing on one side, and the next length on the other side is spot on. As you said, about the hypoxic laps, it is good training for increasing oxygen burning and consumption, but not useful in racing. Saw another clip at Swim Skills about how breathing less can actually help. The drill was to exhale before you swim a length in one breath. When you reach the end, breath in through your nose only, 10 breaths, then repeat. Not easy. The idea is for the body to learn to handle carbon dioxide. I have been playing with it and it is interesting.

Carlo Garcia

2022-12-06 02:44:32

My favorite sport swimming.

Brandon Larkin

2022-12-06 02:43:41

Great questions and answers this week. I've had a couple of these myself. Thank you!

Renee Griffith

2022-12-06 01:08:38

This answered several of my breathing questions! So grateful for this Coach's Corner!

Pedro Ceccon Thurler

2022-12-06 00:44:56

Hello, GTN.
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I’ve been away from triathlon for almost 4 years and now that I’ve returned, I’m focusing on IronMan 70.3 Florianópolis next year (previously I used to compete at sprint triathlons only). My question is the following: it doesn’t matter how hard I push, I’m stuck at a swimming pace of around 2 min/100 m. I don’t think my technique is bad, but knowing that swimming is a very technical sport and that little things make a huge difference, I’d like to hear from you: based on the video I submitted via uploader where can I improve and focus my training?
Thanks in advance for the support.
Please send a hi for GTN fans in Brazil!

Gary Weiss

2022-12-05 22:27:03

Nice job on this Q&A session James. Very clear explanations.

Samuel G

2022-12-05 20:53:48

James, a really well put together video. Thank you, I’ll be trying these tips. Also, get the GTN BTS team to update you as a presenter on the website, well overdue 🤦🏼‍♂️ Think the GTN channel has to be my favourite on YT, the info is spot on, the challenges often fun and the three of you make a great team. Keep the content coming please, and on that note, time to jump on Zwift!

Robert Hall

2022-12-05 19:20:04

Warning:do not ever hyperventilate before doing any hypoxic sets, as you can pass out! I breathe out slowly and relaxed throughout (no holding) over 25 or 50 m distances, and rest well between each (a 1:1.5 to 2 work:rest ratio), whatever the stroke count. Don't sprint, it uses too much oxygen. Let a buddy or lifeguard know what you are doing.

Todd Holmes

2022-12-05 17:19:57

If you’re dizzy after your workouts you should also get a checkup with your doctor. I was consistently dizzy after intense sessions (even in between intense intervals, which was scary when it happened on the bike!). It turned out to be a heart arrhythmia, which was easily treated. Now I’m back to 100%!

jobanski

2022-12-05 16:59:45

When I was younger, kick turns were fun, but now I’m older and they make me nauseous.

G J

2022-12-05 16:30:36

Training tumble turning in a busy public pool is a nightmare. People blocking the right lane and being slow on their lap makes it near impossible. If it is really busy it also becomes a safety concern since you can't check the lane for overtakers.

PlanesTrainsAutos

2022-12-05 15:38:38

Next GTN training video: breathing techniques 😂

Alfonso DeLuca

2022-12-05 15:25:59

I get dizzy/headache when I flip turn during longer workouts as well. It's not a low blood sugar thing either because I'm eat prior to & drink during the swim. Does anyone else have this problem?

Joe Hashbrowns

2022-12-05 14:48:18

I used to be a competitive swimmer (in high school, so take it with a grain of salt), and we were always instructed to mostly breathe however is most comfortable. In the rare case where we did train our breathing, it was always on an even number of strokes if that’s what we trained with normally, or vice versa. I’d say if every 2 is more comfortable for you, go for it. It definitely didn’t hurt me