Understanding the biomechanical theory behind breathing early in freestyle and returning head position when the anchor is set and the pull begins, I find late breathing to be an issue with even the best distance freestylers. Changing the way you breath takes energy, focus, and faith that it will ACTUALLY be faster/more efficient. Any drill ideas on enforcing/correcting this?
Coach Patrick McCrann helped me with this at a swim clinic I did with him last year. To my surprise I found that I was a late breather. Never knew, and didn't think I was. The cue Patrick gave me is to begin the exhalation as soon as the shoulder of the non-breathing side begins its rotation. When I breathe early enough it feels so right, if you know what I mean. I'm able to take in big air. I find I have to stay hyper-vigilant about this issue, or I slip back into the old late-breathing pattern--even after almost a year of working on this. Old habits die hard!
I wouldn't mind a few new drills to work on this, just to mix things up.
