[perow1]

I have come to realize that one of the major factors of a breathhold is finding a routine that works. In search for my routine I have included just forcing myself to a good time. I would say that this has been my way to train to stay with the contractions. Probably the exhale holds will get you to the contractions erlier, but I find them a little different than full lung or full lung+packing contractions. Exhale holds are mentally good though since when you know you can hit X with an exhale hold X will not seem that long when you do a full lung static.

Actually training with contraction or what you call it hasn´t done very much to my PB, general training has done more. I can hit times close to my PB with many preparations. To me that is a STRONG indicator that I haven´t found a good preparation and that I probably will go much longer when I do. What this forceful method has done however is that it has given me the strenght to know that do not need to feel great during my static. A long static will feel uncomfortable and painful and boring at some stage, that is a fact. (even if i tend to remember good statics as easy and fun, but they are not really easy) I guess that experiments like this (or some other experiment) will do something for your PB because you will learn something about yourself useful in designing your method.

Personally I haven´t had time to try and evaluate nearly 10% of all the tricks out there. Theese things take time to evaluate and I guess I will have to go on doing this and be happy with the times I can hit until i learn more. I would say that I am glad that I haven´t been coached with a schematic method to reach say 7mins easy because than I might been keen on sticking to that method though not really right for me. Trying things has made me able to get close to theese times anyway and maybe when I find some good method by myself the time will add significantly to my PB. But ofcourse one should listen to and learn from other peoples methods.