Contractions and packing

[Komov]

Hi everyone!
It seems I really need some suggestions ...
I always trained in deep 6m pool (25m long). Used to swim fully packed with a suite and neckweight (4 kg). Did lots of CO2 tables.


Last few weeks I was preparing for the DNF competition in 50m shallow pool. The most difficult part was to find new good weight distribution. After many tries I came to a system with neck and waist weights (8,5 kg in total). That gave me fare glides.


Suddenly I was very surprised at the competition when received huge contractions at 75 m. Couldn’t bear them and had to abandon the distance way too far from my PB…


It was a first time for me to dive fully packed at shallow depth (about 1 m) and the contraction were much stronger and harder to resist then in the depth. Afterwards I tried to swim in my pool with 2/3 packing. Releasing that part of air made contractions softer but they are still stronger that I used to have at 5m and deeper.


The question is how to prepare to swim in such conditions. Is it still possible to swim with 100% packing (about 30 gulps for me) and therefore have more lead onboard? Does stretching diafragma helps? Should I focus more on static with packing?

 

[moonshade]

I am not an expert, but I was taught that if you stretch your rib cage enough, you can feel more comfortable while packing which may delay or ease the contraction cased by stress. Yoga training helps a lot, but you have to slowly improve it to prevent lung damage.

 

[Simos]

I am no expert either Sergey but it sounds like one of those cases where you might need some trial and error in a shallow pool might help to get used to it and be as relaxed as you are in the deep one and also determine the optimum no of packs for you in that pool. Sounds logical to pack less in the shallow pool but at the same time it's certainly possible to become more comfortable with stretching - both diafragm but also even chest (it takes some time though). Yoga should really help...
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[Simos]

Also if your pb is in a 5m pool, it's normal that you probably not be able to match that in a 1m pool as it's harder in a shallow pool for more than one reason..
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[Komov]

Also if your pb is in a 5m pool, it's normal that you probably not be able to match that in a 1m pool as it's harder in a shallow pool for more than one reason..
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Thank you for the comments and suggestions. I've made some trials in my home pool at 1m depth. It's seems to take time to get used to this sensation but it's certainly possible. Long glides with more weight are worth the effort. And lets see what chest stretching can bring