Swimmers...

savlyon
savlyon Posts: 474 Member
edited October 6 in Fitness and Exercise
I honestly have never seen a post on here about swimming, but I know there are a lot of "tri"ers...so if you can help, please do...

I'm doing a triathlon in May and because swimming is my weakest (ok non existent) sport I have started swimming 30 minutes three times a week or so. At first it was rough, but I got some good advise and the right equipment: goggles and a swimming suit that is for swimming, not laying at the beach showing off your boobies. Finally my kicking is right because I am more buoyant and I can breathe better.
Here is my problem. Water gets up my nose and it burns. Once I get to the end of the row I have to stop to clear my nose. I think I could work on swimming more consistently if I didn't have that to worry about. Is it a breathing problem, a form problem, or do I just need some nose plugs or something? I never noticed this problem before, but I think it was because I was so focused on the fact that I couldn't breathe and I was scissor kicking and I just wanted to get to the end of the lane where I could gasp for breath!

Thanks for your help!!

Replies

  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Breathing problem would be my guess. When your head is underwater you should be slowly blowing your breath out. That way when you do bring your head out to breath all you do is inhale.
  • savlyon
    savlyon Posts: 474 Member
    Should I be breathing out my nose too? I typically breathe only in and out of my mouth.
  • theunimpossible
    theunimpossible Posts: 12
    Hi, I swim competitively for my school :)

    Typically you don't get water in your nose if your face is facing into the water.
    This could be that you're actually breathing in the water (without realizing).

    Otherwise, if you're doing a flipturn just blow out air from your nose to avoid that burning feeling. (so water doesn't get in)
    After you swim for a while, it won't hurt as much.

    Usually, I just stop all airflow from my nose, and just breathe from strictly only from my mouth.

    Hope this helps!
  • ButterflyKristen
    ButterflyKristen Posts: 109 Member
    Definately be breathing out your nose slowly as your face is in the water, then when you turn your head to breath, you suck in a breath, put your face down again and breath out your nose, repeat. you should be able to do at least 3 strokes before you turn your head again to take a breath in. I would highly recommend buying a book on swimming, or at least do an on-line search of swimming techniques as well as swimming in the triathlon setting.

    Good luck! Tri's are a thrill!
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    You want to have a little bubble of air in your nasal cavity that will keep water from coming in, and the way to get that is to sort of force air up through the back of your throat like you're getting ready to breathe OUT, but never actually letting any air escape.

    When I used to teach swimming to kids I would tell them to pretend like you have a cold. You know when your nose is all stuffed up and you try to breathe out through your nose but can't? That's sort of how it feels-- your tongue will flatten in the back of your mouth, and your throat feels sort of like it's trying to swallow.


    If that doesn't; do it, there's no shame in a nose clip. One of the beefiest and most successful triathletes who trains at my pool uses one.
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