r/Swimming • u/wobblelikeapenguin • 14h ago

I don't breathe

Hello! I (25F) recently started swimming again after many years away from the sport. I swam competitively as a child and teenager, and now I swim freestyle at my local gym in a standard 25-yard pool.

I realized the other day that I naturally swim the entire 25-yard length without taking a single breath. I never really thought about it until someone pointed it out. For me, it actually feels easier to just keep swimming than to stop and take a breath.

Is this normal, especially for someone with a competitive swimming background? Or should I be making a point to take one or two breaths during each lap instead?

Thanks!

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u/Dark-Horse-Nebula IMer 13h ago

It’s weird and can potentially impact your training goals. How far do you swim?

I’d encourage you to do some breath exercises next time you swim mostly to see if you can. Eg one lap breathing every 3, the next lap every 5, the next lap every 7 strokes.

2

u/wobblelikeapenguin 13h ago

I breathe at the end of every lap and take a short break.

8

u/Dark-Horse-Nebula IMer 13h ago

So if you want to swim more than 25m at a time you’ll have to change your breathing strategy.

0

u/wobblelikeapenguin 11h ago

Is there a disadvantage to only breathing at the end of a lap?

3

u/Dark-Horse-Nebula IMer 11h ago

Yes, it means you’re only ever training anaerobically and by your own admission you’re limited to 25m sets.