[laminar]

Eric and I are starting an "experiment" of sorts that will take at least half a year to yield results. Static cycles of 7-10 days in a row, 2 months apart. Max effort on each one.

Yesterday, was the first day (we'd been planning this for ages).

If any of you had followed my previous ideas in the "Beyond 6:30 in Static" thread, you'll know that after a couple weeks of static practice twice a week last January, I was able to make over 6'00" on the first static of the day, with a new pb of 6'49" (all times are "wet").

Anyway, I hadn't done static since training for Canadian Nationals (June 2004) and had no idea how I would do, especially going for maximum on the first one. My physical training has been minimal since then, as I've been busy with work since Worlds. Typically, I get to the pool 2-3 times a week for fin work and regular swims.

Anyway, last night I got in the water, did sub-neutral breathing through my nose for about 5 minutes and then packed and put my head under. The contractions came gently at around 3'30" and continued to build. At around 5'00" I suddenly felt my hands and feet tingle gently (blood shunt?) and I felt completely clear headed. I came up at 6'01" because of surprise more than anything and did not need any recovery. My ears did not ring, meaning I had not reached my 95%-100% limit.

I tried again, but packed too much and immediately had a cramp in my back muscles that forced me to pull up at 4'30". Tomorrow, I will try to do 3-4 statics in a row over 6'15".

Eric followed, and made 6'22" on his first try. He breathes through a snorkel face down with no hood and packs directly through the snorkel. He rested for about 4 minutes and then did sub neutral breathing for another 4 minutes. He surfaced at 7'03". He said he felt a small micro shake--I couldn't see it.

We had to leave the pool as it was closing. But all this is encouraging to me that the body makes adaptations from intense hypoxic training. I fully expected to have problems buffering out the CO2 during my first static in 6 months-but the result was completely opposite. But we both we able to reach statics close enough to our personal bests on the first effort!

What I am hoping is that after seven days of this practice, I will surpass 7'00" or even reach 7'15"-7'30", and then when we do the next 7 day session, I will start off at 6'30"-6'45", instead of 6'00". We'll see.

Lucia: I think people do warm-ups because of habit. Logic tells them that since everyone does warm-ups (until now) that that's the only way to get a god time. It is what is taught to beginners, as well, in courses everywhere. And for the majority, reaching 4'00"-5'00" is impressive enough to be proof that it works.

I think the shift in thinking will end up being that apnea training does take time:
-the apneist who takes one year training with no breathe-up and no warm-up statics will achieve adaptations that will be permanent or at least long-lasting
-the apneist who trains for immediate gain and achieves long statics through hyperventilation, gradual warm-ups, will be less successful (relative to their own potential) in the long run because the body's adaptations are not optimzed for long breath holds.

As always, the goal in my mind is to mimic the seal or dolphin, who can take a breath at any time and dive well.

Oh, yeah, in case anyone missed it, Tom Sietas just set a German national record of 175m in dynamic without fins, which is more than the world record of 166m by Stig Severinsen.

Pete Scott
Vancouver, BC