Hi Lucia,
Yes, when contractions come hard and fast it can be discouraging. Here are some methods I would use to get to a stage where longer first breath statics are possible:
-Do static apnea in the water: I always find that dry statics are much more difficult when it comes to hypercapnia. I never do dry statics anymore for that reason. In the water, you are cooler, vasocontricted, and probably have some blood shunt happening. All good. Also I also feel way more relaxed.
-Interval training with a whole body exercise (ergometer/rowing machine, running sprints, swimming, X-C skiing, fast hiking, even downhill skiing (if you are relatively good is a kind of interval training). Keep it short and sweet and high intensity. Be mindful that this kind of training can cause injury or overtraining.
-Long recoveries between max statics (5-8 minutes). Statics create acid and if you are not hyperventilating, you'll need longer to return to a more normal blood pH.
-Apnea walking or cycling (dry): But I think that although this may have benefits for dealing with hypercapnia, the adaptations are mostly for actual diving under water, ie. apnea while moving.
I used to do CO2 tables quite a bit, especially the 1 breath, 2'00", one breath recovery, 2'00" etc... until I'd get contractions at less than a minute. But I don't really think that it has any long term benefit.
I think derelictp is right. Doing 2-3 max statics if you can't reach the point where you start to get hypoxic IS a CO2 table. And when that gets easier, and your times are extended, you don't have to change anything.
Derelictp,
Your analysis of your best results and worse results with different degrees of ventilation is good, except that I think you don't have enough data to say that no ventilation max statics do not allow you to get to your maximum.
However, everyone is a little different, and some active breathing might eventually work to make a static better. I think we can only figure this out after many days of trying one method the same every time, in the context of daily variations of metabolism, energy levels, fatigue, mental determination, etc...
When you say that you relaxed on the sofa for 5-7 minutes, it strikes me as not being long enough, especially if you were up and about, walking around. Remember that Tom will stay motionless for 12 minutes. And I imagine he's fairly calm and quiet before that. I mention this because contractions at 2 minutes sounds pretty early for you, if you can usually get contractions at 3 minutes. Also, are these all dry statics? In my experience, I can handle much higher levels of hyperventilation dry vs. wet. If I hyperventilate even slightly in the water, I feel it immediately. And most often, it is not good.
If I get contractions earlier than 3'15"-3'30" I know that something else is not right. Hyperventilating with not solve it.
Jason,
I've heard of other people holding their breath in their sleep. TylerZ told me once he got contractions for a minute before he was woken up. Glad to see that both you and Julie competed at the Regionals. I look forward to the monster next year.
Jilly,
I call this training session the Scott-Fattah Variations of the Sietas Protocols in C02 minor
Hopefully this symphony of hypoxia will turn out some beautiful music next summer..
