From what I understand, breath control training largely provides little (if any?) physiological training effect other than from the work itself (which is hindered anyway, making it a waste of time for training any of the energy systems).
I assume there is room to mentally adapt and learn how to manage hypoxic suffering. But other than developing a strong aerobic base and increasing level of conditioning, can one actually have room to improve their hypoxic capacity specifically through hypoxic training?
Thank you!
Former Member
I would see the primary benefit not being physiological, as I've seen evidence (can't remember the source) that you can't train yourself to not need air, but in learning to relax while under pressure for air, thus working more efficiently.
I didn't even realize the US Meteorological Service HAD a police department. What do they do, chastise weather reporters for bad hair days?
On the bright side, when looking up other organizations with the same abbreviation as ours, I found out we are listed #1. I just KNEW we could pull ahead of the Marshal's service if we kept at it! Tommy Lee Jones, eat your heart out.
(As an aside, it appears that Timothy Olyphant, who plays US Marshal Raylan Givens on the show Justified, was a pretty decent swimmer in his day.)
:hijack:
Anyway, back on topic:
Some light snow Friday from central MO to much of southern IL with light rain/snow mix a bit more south than that, like OH Valley.
Lake Michigan will expect snow showers from lower WI and northen IL which makes ideal swimming conditions for chaos.
Then this should be a given in my case (the on-top type). As a masters swimmer who does not have any structured training experience, I'll have to approach this cautiously - stuff like this needs to be done under close coached supervision. Definately not in the books when I'm the only swimmer in the pool.
I'll have to guage improvement, hopefuly I hadn't already peaked in this hypercapnic tolerance (ability to swim without air) because I have room for improvement - still take one breath for 50M at any effort. So continued training for about three more weeks, four total in addition to my current week, of 3 - 4 (each wk) painful hypoxic workouts. Any negative effects or a lack of progress will be a good sign to back off down to once a week for maintenence.
I just need to hold my breath for less than 30 seconds, once.
and this breathing pattern thing is the one divergence I ever had with my coach.
Same here. And, my coach has become a good friend. But, I proved my point to him when I was unable to go past 50 yards of fly holding a breathing pattern of every other stroke, BUT, could swim 2,000 yards of continuous fly when I allowed myself to breathe EVERY stroke. (Thanks to Ande who made the suggestion of breathing every stroke on the fly leg of a 400 IM and on 200 fly, if needed.)
Now, my coach is my training partner twice/week and writes our workouts. On those occasional days when a prescribed breathing pattern shows up for a freestyle set, he understands when I just smile at him and go about my business of breathing every third stroke, at most. :D
I have proven to myself with a lot of testing over the years that more O2 gives me the ability to do more work. I'm not a sprinter and focus on 1650 to 5K open water events. I used to think when I got to the end of longer sets like 4/500+ when my muscles were dead or dying that it was b/c they were fatigued, but in point of fact as soon as I went to mixing in some 2:3 patterns all that went away and I got faster. It also ensures I'm well oxygenated heading into my turns so I can break out and peel off 3 or 4 strokes w/o breathing. Now my lungs are what say 'no mas' not my lats. Coach couldn't argue with the results and his 'must do this breathing pattern' mantra slowly became a non issue. Don't be afraid to experiment with breathing patterns! Coaches hate to be wrong and there is nothing more painful for them than to have to back off one of their core beliefs. I understand that I do. The logical fallacy of an Appeal to Authority knows no bounds. Just b/c a coach is on deck with a whistle(position of authority) doesn't mean they can't be wrong and this breathing pattern thing is the one divergence I ever had with my coach.
I suppose if a swimmer has a poor body position to begin with or they fall on their breathing arm when taking a breath then yes more breathing could end up being detrimental and slow them down. Drag is the demon and adding a bit more air may not compensate for the slowing down with poor mechanics.
Think of this: would you hold your breath periodically on a 5K run? 20 mile bike ride?
usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx
More specifically from information I gathered earlier in this thread, on page 446 of E. Maglischo's SWIMMING FASTEST. He mentions swimmers can quickly develop ability to swim races with fewer breaths.
My birthday is approaching, if I'm lucky enough to be asked what I would like for a gift, maybe I should mention this book.
