Dr. Tigerchik wrote:
re: gasping
when you turn are you breathing on the stroke right before the turn, and/or on the stroke when you come out of it? The conventional wisdom used to be "don't breathe before the turn" but then we figure out it's faster coming OFF the turn, so now for distance stuff I'll breathe right before the wall, and try to not breathe on the stroke(s) right after it.
I usually feel like I'm a bit oxygen deprived doing anything moderate (and certainly fast) and I think that is something you get used to. It's not that it's going to go away; part of swimming fast is breath "holding" (well, exhaling w face under and grabbing a quick breath).
Good turns are hard; my turns aren't awesome (I don't dolphin off the wall well; it's on my list to work on) so yes, good turns are hard, even for good swimmers, and it makes sense to me that they're extra extra hard for adult onset swimmers.
happy to have you here no matter what you do at the wall
Thanks.
Well, because of this situation, I often tried to sneak a breath right before the turn. (I know some coaches say "no breathing once you are inside the flags" - I roflmao about that. It would literally kill me to do that.) And then, after pushoff, I'm desperate for a breath, so I was always breathing on the stroke after. To do otherwise would put me into such oxygen debt that I'd be done.
I gave it a shot - around 2 years / 25000 turns - maybe 3-5 years would do it for me, but I really can't imagine it.
It bugs me now, because I'm not one of the "cool people" doing flip-turns at the pool. But...I am happy, and oxygenated!! :)
I only swim.
I used to run. (31:09 10k)
I never did Triathlon.
Sue me.