Mom,
Much of what you want to learn (for the HIM) depends on how much time you have between now and the race. If you?re not really accustom to swimming crawl stroke (?freestyle?)?I wouldn?t worry about the bi-lat breathing until you?re comfortable swimming that stroke. To navigate you?ll just need to look around every several strokes and keep an eye on the other swimmers. However, if you do have time to refine it?I think bi-lat breathing makes open water swimming more efficient. But it does take some new coordination and getting use to.

Figuring the distance of the course you?re swimming?
You can go to http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/[/URL" target="_blank"> and enter ?Alum Creek, OH? at the top where it says ?Jump to:? and then use the zoom, pan, and map/satellite tools to get exactly to where you?re swimming on that lake. Then zoom way in and use the pedometer tool to map your course (in the water). Just click on ?Start recording? and then on the map/satellite photo click along your route. It?ll give you a pretty accurate measurement.

Dan

Hi 4boysmom,

I unfortunately know nothing about the specifics of tri swimming, but I do have a few possibly helpful comments about learning to swim in general and knowing where you're going while swimming. (I'm used to swimming for time, not endurance, so hopefully someone can come in and ex-nay anything I say that just wouldn't work in tri-distance swimming.)

You can stay afloat and side-stroke. That's a good start. At least you are able to swim in some fashion. But at the very least, I'd recommend learning to swim other strokes in a pool, for several reasons:

One of the easiest ways to practise breathing is while NOT moving. You can stand in shallow water and bend over to do this (not terribly comfortable), have someone hold your feet, or you can get to a pool, where if the pool is relatively empty, you can hook your feet around the ladder or over the ledge and "swim" without going anywhere. This sounds stupid, but it really works. I recommend this because it is a good way to learn to pace your breathing, starting with very slow strokes, and also to side-sight on your breaths. Seeing your surroundings on the right and left is often as good as looking ahead. You will have a major 30 degree blind-spot right in front of you, which may be a problem with so many other swimmers in the water, but then I guess you can also practise sighting in this way.

The other advantage to not-going-anywhere is that you can practise the strokes you are learning very, very slowly. You don't need to worry about staying afloat or propelling yourself, just concentrate on what your arms are doing, and your breathing in time with that action, until it feels right. If you have very little experience swimming with your face submerged most of the time, it can be a little scary and you'll think of nothing but your next breath. Being essentially immobilized at your feet makes for a controlled environment. You can stop and breathe at any time.

Another option is to invest in a flutter board (very cheap), and place it under your chest. It will keep you unnaturally high in the water, but again you can learn breathing and strokes at your own pace, without worrying about either being necessary to your comfort and safety.

Best for last: Adult swimming lessons through your municipal community centre. They should not be very expensive. Less than $70 for 10 lessons over 10 weeks where I live. Private lessons are twice that, but either are a good investment. You'll enjoy swimming more if you have more versatility/skill in the sport.

Side stroke was about all I had swimming-wise until about two years ago. I'd never learned proper freestyle and how to breathe. Since I'm not particularly the lesson-type, I went with the Total Immersion DVD and books. I'm sure lessons would have worked as well or better if that style of learning suited me, but TI was a great way to learn on my own. It breaks down the stroke into drills and then gradually builds it back up into swimming.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by triandstopme:
Side stroke was about all I had swimming-wise until about two years ago. I'd never learned proper freestyle and how to breathe. Since I'm not particularly the lesson-type, I went with the Total Immersion DVD and books. I'm sure lessons would have worked as well or better if that style of learning suited me, but TI was a great way to learn on my own. It breaks down the stroke into drills and then gradually builds it back up into swimming. <HR>

Edited to add: On the bilateral breathing, I would work on that from the start. Being able to breathe to either side keeps both your stroke and your strengths evened out. In open water, how you breathe will probably depend more on the conditions. You may well do as you have been, breathe toward the beach side both for sighting and to avoid getting a lungful of water. But if you've learned bilateral breathing along the way, you'll have the option of breathing to either side as needs or conditions dictate. I used to be more comfortable breathing to my right, but now I've worked so hard to get comfortable to the left, that the left is now my "better" side. Which just means I need to focus on the right again.