When I met with my trainer on Friday, we talked about the benefits of bilateral breathing (taking breaths on both sides, every three strokes). So, I was eager to give it a try and see how it went. I didn't know if I would be able to get the coordination of it or get the right amount of oxygen doing it. Up until now, I've been breathing on one side every two strokes.
So, Saturday afternoon I went to the pool strictly to give the technique a try. I wanted to take it easy and not do a hard workout - just try to breathe every three strokes.
And I surprised myself finding that I am actually coordinated enough to physically turn my head to the left as well as the right. ;) That part came to me rather easily.
However, I feel almost as if I'm starting to swim all over again as far as the oxygen goes. I can't tell if I'm not getting enough air waiting an extra stroke to breathe or what. But it's tiring. I couldn't finish a whole lap without taking a break, kind of like I did when I started trying to swim freestyle without stopping all the time. But I think over time, I'll get used to it.
And I realized that if I ever need more air, I can just switch to breathing every two strokes again for a while. So we'll see how this goes.
Then, I've got plans to have dinner with some friends tonight, so I decided to do my very first trainer-created-training-plan workout on Sunday instead of Monday. It was an intensity swim workout plus a short run. I felt like it was enough to be a good workout, but not so much that I was dead tired afterwards. I think this 6 day-a-week thing might be doable after all.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Swim 1000yds
Learning bilateral breathing. Tried a 400 just to see what my time would be - 11:42. Considering I had to take breaks and do the breast stroke quite a bit, I think this is going to be a significantly faster technique than what I was doing before - once I get used to it, that is.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Intensity Swim + Run 25 minutes
Swim 8x25 sprints and 8x50 thresholds - total of 600 yds.
Run on the treadmill 25 minutes - 2.7 miles.
Here's something that may or may not help you, which I just learned last week. That reflex to breath, is simply that a "reflex". When I understood that, it was much easier to hold to my new breathing patterns... and make the length of a 25 yd. pool without breathing. But you are right, in that it is timing... you'll get it! :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool. I'll live out my athletic girl fantasies through you, since I lack the motivation to actually do something like this :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your training. It sounds to me like you're on your way to some great results. All the best.
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