I've been wanting to start this thread for a while-- we have one about flutter kicking, SDK, and speed. If I may be so bold, I'd like to see one on how to improve your capacity for hypoxic sets.
After getting back into swimming about 4 months ago, I have noticed a decrease in my ability to handle hypoxic sets, and in general, in my ability to stay underwater for any significant length of time. I find myself trying to get to the surface as soon as possible after turning at the wall so I can get some air. I know this is slowing me down significantly.
As for breathing while actually swimming, I seem to have no problems-- I am pretty much a bilateral breather (every three strokes). It's when I'm coming into the wall or leaving the wall where I have problems, as I can't seem to hold my breath and am always breaking the cardinal rule of not breathing while in the "red zone."
We do at least one hypoxic set per day, and not surprisingly, I usually have problems (although I do try to make it).
Any tips for how to improve, or does this just come with practice and increased aerobic capacity?
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So, Jazz, when you're practicing no breather 50s, that's just breath holding practice so you'll be used to not breathing at race time? You don't think you're training your body to tolerate oxygen debt better? Or is there really no oxygen debt on a 50?
I actually don't do those anymore. I had a bad experience holding my breath at Nationals this summer.
Anyway, as I said, oxygen isn't really the issue. It's just the psychological tolerance of the carbon dioxide. If you want to get better at underwater kicking, underwater kicking would be a great way to do that, but it's total bullshit to say that there's some "hypoxic capacity" that must be developed. The evidence for that just doesn't exist.
So, Jazz, when you're practicing no breather 50s, that's just breath holding practice so you'll be used to not breathing at race time? You don't think you're training your body to tolerate oxygen debt better? Or is there really no oxygen debt on a 50?
I actually don't do those anymore. I had a bad experience holding my breath at Nationals this summer.
Anyway, as I said, oxygen isn't really the issue. It's just the psychological tolerance of the carbon dioxide. If you want to get better at underwater kicking, underwater kicking would be a great way to do that, but it's total bullshit to say that there's some "hypoxic capacity" that must be developed. The evidence for that just doesn't exist.
