(Fix) Running Out Of Air | Freestyle Breathing Tips

Do you find yourself running out of air early in your session? It could be that you're not breathing regularly enough. Bi-lateral breathing is a great skill to have, but you don't need to race that way. For many swimmers, breathing every two strokes is going to allow them to race at a higher intensity and get more air in to meet the demands.

Fix your breathing and save energy using the drills in our Core Principle #1 - Breathe Deep and Relax:

Freestyle clinics (Australia):

*Resources Mentioned In This Video*

'Is This The Easiest 1:10/100m Freestyle Ever?'

'Exhausted After 100m? Try This...'

[nathanluther]

I started swimming competitively 3 weeks ago. I’ve gone from dying at 25 meters to swimming 150 unbroken today. You have helped me a lot

[oljg]

i used to inhale on a third or fourth stroke and noted i am getting tired quite soon; one day i woke up and decided to inhale on every second stroke, since then i never looked back, it helped me with my endurance, speed, technique and times, i dropped from 45minutes to under 25minutes for the same distance (1km), hope i will continue progressing further this year. (i am 35)

[endo]

Had to miss years of swimming at school, & never been taught to swim properly. Like Luis below I've had a lifetime goal of being able to swim better which i started 18 months ago aged 58! Training regularly, improving well. Nearly always breathing bilaterally every 3 and occasionally 5 and 7. On sprints I'm OK with 50M but on 100M I would tire on the 50-75, knowing the final turn would rob me of more oxygen. Never questioned it until recently. Now you've answered it. Cant wait to try this on the next 100. Many thanks Brenton!

[plutopolite]

I breathe one side but I still need more air 🤣🤭

[brianodonnell]

Love what you teach, its so helpful. Well done

[genegoof]

I started swimming when I was about 52 and I can't get around breathing to my left side- mostly because I have got a bit stiff neck with age. Sometimes I drop one breath depending on the pace. My regular coaches doesn't really care too much which is nice. They care about being on tracks, high elbow, body position (core) and keeping the legs high and head somewhat low :-)

[joemoya]

Yep. The rule I learned over the past 35 yrs. was - Train predominately breathing both sides... race one side - (take your pick of sides). The problem I found breathing "one sided" only for both training and racing is that you find an increase in injury because of muscular imbalance and tendon stretched vs. tightens differences. This is especially true with the neck and to a lesser degree the shoulder Rotator Cuff/Glenohumeral Joint.
I would say the key injuries are a combination of muscular imbalance that complicates any bulging disk or stenosis resulting in finger numbness and /or various referral "pain trigger points" along the shoulder and arm. This especially becomes apparent as you get older. "One sided training" and racing at a younger age is more forgiving but will catch up with you from middle age on. So... if you want to have a long swimming life... train both sides ... and seldom swim single sided (race only).

[kgb]

Thank you for making this clear! I’m new to swimming laps everyday since November 2019 I’m 59 years old but consider myself in good shape. I was told that I need to breath every 4th stroke. For me, I’m finding it difficult to do this. I’ve tried every3rd stroke but that means taking a breath on my left side. If I keep doing this there will be no more pool water in the pool because I keep swallowing water. Yuck! So I’m finding every 2nd stroke gives me more stamina to continue swimming. Again, thank you for this video now I don’t feel like I’m doing something wrong.

[kelleyhudson]

Thank you sir, I am a new swimmer and have learned so much from you.

[taijoad]

Ive been swimming at my local pool and did my first real open ocean swim at the beach. But like you said i heard that the 4 stroke was the vest way to get endurance, i cant wait to hit the water and try this. My goal is to do a ocean swim race by the end if the summer

[BienvenidoEspinal]

Thank you, this confirms that I was getting ahead of myself practicing 3.

[dave]

Every 2nd stroke, look at sun yang 1500m videos as an example. 3rd if I’m bored in the middle of a long distance swim, but often every 2nd stroke there as well. I always face one side of the room on each lap to keep it balanced, unlike racing where people usually stick to one side.

[davidmclaren]

Thanks for the tips. I study all of your videos. I'd really like to hear any ideas you have for "survival strokes". I have to swim 100m and tread for two minutes with boots, a weighted vest (I'd have to look up the weight) and some other gear annually for my job. It is tough, as you can imagine. I usually end up using side stroke and nearly dying during the tread. Give it a try. It might even make a good video. Again, love to hear your thoughts or recommendations. Thanks

[craigrothenburger]

Thanks! Must be why no one bilaterally breathes in a race. Can swim a long time breathing bilaterally, so long I get my own escort boat in races and have to help bring in the sighting buoys.

[fturla___]

I practice breathing every fourth or fifth stroke but when I get tired, I drop to a two stroke breathing rhythm until I gain strength then try to build up back to the four stroke breath rate. The key for me is to swim at a set pace at the four stroke breathing rate, but when I get to that point without increasing my breath rate, I drop my set goal time lower so it becomes harder for me to maintain the four stroke pace. I'm trying to reduce my times without resorting to a two stroke breath rate on longer distances.

[doreenlloyd]

Hi I find it better to breathe on one side; not for fastness purposes, just I find it mour comfortable. Should add I am 73 ha ha.

[rapssss]

I used to breath each 4 stroke and when I switched to 2 then I started to be able to swim for longer distance. It took me a while to get use to though.

[blinzi]

if i wanna go more than 200m i need to breathe every 2nd stroke, but im way faster when i breateh ever 3rd stroke - am i doing something wrong?

[Paul.Casteel]

I was going 25 Maters in an 25 mater pool with out take an Breath an I was swimming 50 meater some told I was getting tried because I was not taking enought beathes.Then Itryed swimm an 100 meater then 200 meaters then the same person told me that my breathing is very imported in long Distances races.She show me and race there were 3 man 2 or them keep it going one of them slow down I was told the 3erd man slow down because he didn't take enought beathes.

[sjdj]

3rd 😯☺️😛I get gassed when flip turning vs. open turns. Help (ps i’m a paid member)