The Effortless Swimming Podcast #420 : The Real Reason You Are Out Of Breathe with Brenton Ford
Mar 16, 2026
A deep dive into why swimmers run out of breath and how timing of exhalation affects oxygen and buoyancy. Discussion of inefficient kicking and bent hips causing drag and wasted energy. Simple kick tweaks focused on balance rather than power. Tips on lengthening the body for better flotation and how relaxation lowers effort and heart rate.
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Nine Month Swimmer Who Couldn’t Reach 50 Meters
- A swimmer with nine months' experience kept stopping before 50 meters because she exhaled too much immediately after submerging.
- Once Brenton Ford taught her to hold most air and only release more as she turned for the next breath, she completed 2 km comfortably.
Hold Most Air Until You Turn To Breathe
- Do avoid exhaling all your air immediately after returning your face to the water and instead hold most air until you turn to breathe.
- Let a small passive exhale occur underwater and make the main exhale during the head turn to preserve oxygen and buoyancy.
Early Exhale Reduces Buoyancy And Causes Fatigue
- Exhaling too much early both deprives you of oxygen and reduces buoyancy because lung air provides most of your floatation.
- Losing buoyancy makes swimmers kick harder and waste energy, worsening breathlessness and posture.