freestyle breath

Question
  Hello i am on a summer swim team and i had a couple questions for you.

When i race my freestyle i seem to get out of rethym by breathing.
When i practice it and just go slow i am very smooth with my breathing. but when it comes to a race i feel choppy when i breath.

Can you help or offer some suggestions?

Thanks  

Answer
Ashlee,
I do have some suggestions for you.  RELAX.  :-)

Seriously though.  If you are fine with your breathing when you slow down and practice, that means you have the timing correct.  Most likely you just tense up when you try to race.

Swimming is a finesse sport.  In other words, strength is not always the most important factor in swimming.  Technique is very important.  If you look at most top level swimmers (olympians), they look like they are very relaxed while swimming...AND THEY ARE.  You need to stay relaxed.  Only utilize the muscles you need to while swimming.

Yes, this is much easier said than done.

When you race, you need to think about relaxing.  Moving your arms as fast as possible will not get you through the water faster.  Think about pulling harder not faster.  Does this make sense?  Lengthen your stroke.

Here is something to help you out:  Everytime you start to get choppy, tell yourself to lengthen your stroke out.  My favorite saying is "LONG AND STRONG".  If you keep saying this to yourself before and during your race you might remember to (1) lengthen your stroke, (2) relax, and (3) breathe properly.

I hope that this does help out.  Your question if very common.  All swimmers get choppy on their breathing when they get tired.  I have to continually tell myself to lengthen out my stroke by extending my arms fully.  It's something that is easy to forget but VERY important.

If this doesn't help out, please let me know.  I would like to make sure you get this down!
Good luck and swim hard!
Eric