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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Former Member
It's just the psychological tolerance of the carbon dioxide.
This is why you need to practice doing SDK's in training. If you don't you will be gasping for breath in competition. You have to train yourself to tolerate the co2.
But you should get yourself timed and make sure that you are actually faster under the water. You might find that your SDK's are not powerful enough and that you would be better off surfacing earlier. I had myself timed about a year back and found that my time actually increased when I went over 2 SDK's per length. That was quite an eye opener for me. Not everyone is equally good at SDK'ing Doesn't mean that you have to give up on it. The more you practice, the better you will get. It might just mean that you will have to delay it as a competition tactic until a later date.
It's just the psychological tolerance of the carbon dioxide.
This is why you need to practice doing SDK's in training. If you don't you will be gasping for breath in competition. You have to train yourself to tolerate the co2.
But you should get yourself timed and make sure that you are actually faster under the water. You might find that your SDK's are not powerful enough and that you would be better off surfacing earlier. I had myself timed about a year back and found that my time actually increased when I went over 2 SDK's per length. That was quite an eye opener for me. Not everyone is equally good at SDK'ing Doesn't mean that you have to give up on it. The more you practice, the better you will get. It might just mean that you will have to delay it as a competition tactic until a later date.
