Beginer pool training

[OTGav]

I’m sure this is very basic – but am after a bit of a “how to”.
I train with a few others at the pool for the last couple of months – in order to use the pool (and because it makes sense) we have very strict buddy support on ALL swims. So, one up swimming on surface, one down for every swim.
We’ve been going gently so far, comfortable swims with what ever breath up feels right.
I’d like to start actually training to improve – the complication is fitting in my buddy into the training program so that we both benefit from the pool time. For example it’s hard to work out how to do a set of 25m’s with decreasing breath up/rests when (of course) once I’m surfaced & protocol’d my buddy is getting ready to go for his swim which makes my rest period a little strenuous and means I can’t time things exactly to have a steady decrease in rest etc.
Any thoughts on good patterns for training that work with a buddy so you both get benefit?
Thanks
Gav

 

[Kars]

You can differentiate your training into aspects like:

Muscle warmup,
Flexibility,
Condition,
Strength,
Technique,
CO2,
O2.

Many of these aspects can be done with a snorkel on the surface.

Now you can design your training in the following way:

Both warm up muscles in gentle way on the surface, breathing and swimming.
One take a 5 minute preparation the other get's out and walks along the pool buddying the first guy doing a 'maximum dive' (O2, endurance). Switch places do your max dive.
Now you can switch again and have your buddy do something like 16x50m apnea (CO2, lactic acid, technique, condition), you as his coach do the countdowns and help him improve technique with one new direction at each surfacing. These 800m goes very quick, say 25 to 15 minutes(!). switch and enjoy the coaching an improvement. Having a cam is even better.

Now if you're alone and keep yourself well within your personal O2 limits, you can do for instance a CO2 table by swimming with a mono on the surface wearing a snorkel, but only breath at the given intervals.

If you've got 2 buddies, you may get away with 1 guy buddying two people swimming next to each other.

What I also do is for instance swim DNF with snorkel on the surface. Whilst it's not apnea, I can still train certain aspects of a dive.

I hope this is helpful.

And I'm sure you'll work on having a good reputation at that pool, showing you care about their position and showing your fun and freediving professionalism.

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

 

[Siku]

Thanks Kars that's all really useful stuff.

Particularly the last point - how do you recommend mintaining reputation at a pool. there's obviously not much understanding e.g. at my local pool masks that cover the nose aren't allowed!

 

[Kars]

Just try to be a good reasonable, understanding person interacting with the staff, from the hierarchy ground level up.
It takes some time but you need them to realise you are a caring human, just like them, and you know his and your responsibility and will not endanger his employment or his peace of mind. in Short generate trust. Now, I do think it's best NOT to initiate yourself talking about the dangers of the sport with the crew nor management. You only get them scared. Words like blackout will generate images of near death in their often uncertain minds. Be very open and invite their questions though. So I say be positive, build their trust and self-esteem and self-confidence, so they are courageous enough to let you do something that you are passionate about. You see this process takes time, but in the long run your initiative will you help them grow and you will receive the fruits like more privileges and liberty in trade of showing responsibility.

Make sure your buddy team is aware of the communication strategies to the pool, so no one will make the mistake of scaring the staff or management with some unthoughtful words or acts.

Also realise that the staff is the easiest to convince, and the management takes the longest simply because they are more critical and see more potential problems, as well they are only paid to please the general public, not some people doing some weird stuff.

Aside from the parties I mentioned, also make sure you have a good relation with other swimmers. Make sure they feel comfortable, respected and even appreciated. This is important because sooner or later you'll bump into someone, or your friends do, and you don't want a tsunami of distrust of the unknown to flood the complaints person/box of the pool.

Build the relation and understand it's hard to hate someone who you know by name and experience and has always treated you with care, reason, regards, respect and love.
And it's hard to love someone you don't know. <this also applies to yourself>

And that is part of charm of freediving, through this experience we get to know ourselves.

Ok, I could go on, but then I would take away some surprises you'll have exploring your own way

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

 

[red fraggle]

i am new to free diving and would like some tips on how i should go about training in a pool....?

 

[Kars]

If you're new to freediving:

Before you go to the pool:

- Read up about freediving, especially about the dangers, black out etc.
- Do dry statics to explore in a relative safe way what holding you breath does with your body.
- Find a buddy.
- Study with your buddy how to deal with samba's an BO's
- If you've got the resources, do a freediving course. It will teach you all the safety aspects and will give you both a HUGE head start in learning how to freedive. (The best way to go by far.)

- As with any unknown territory proceed careful with caution, use your brain.
You don't want to be with the team of freedivers who managed to stay down forever...


I'm sorry to overload you with such a pile of warnings, I just feel I need to be very cautious these days with increasingly fearful people who lack sometimes the most basic discernment and reasoning skills and like lemmings try out anything 'extreme' not caring about any consequences for others and often not even for themselves.


Now you'll find this wonderful helix sport of the endless blue and floating dreams can give you not only great relaxation and enjoyment, but also teach you who you are and show you the beauty in others as well.

Love, Courage and water,

Kars

 

[red fraggle]

will follow your adive..........great help........


regards