Finally Broke The Barrier!!!

[bite ya]

Hi all, just got back from the pool and wanted to share with you that i finally broke the 6min barrier in static tonight with a new P.B of 6mins 08secs....

Absolutly over the moon, thanks to everyone for all the advice since i've been on here! It's helped me understand so much more about freediving than i ever imagined.

I came up nice and clean with a big thumbs up to my safety diver and my wife who came to watch me train for the first time! :inlove

Thanks all...:friday couldn't ask for anymore at the moment.

Chris Holmes

 

[BennyB]

Brilliant stuff Chris! Well done mate, it's well deserved.

Say.... I was having some troubles with my statics and was wondering if you could help me....

 

[hudasmt]

Can you pass on some wisdom on how you did it? Congratulations!!!

 

[roy_nexus_6]

Congrats ! PB's are always amazing. Best wishes and safe diving !

 

[bite ya]

Its all about the lemons. And cutting down on my 20 a day habit!! Ill give smoking up one day! Ben - the day when you come to me for advice is still a long way away!! Thanks mate.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[billieball]

Congrats, Chris! Awesome job!

 

[bite ya]

Cheers Billie
Got a stinky cold this week so i'll have to give training a miss :rcard not a happy bunny, was hoping to do the same but i think after a whole week off i'll be back to crap times :head

All the best
Chris

 

[sayNO2o2]

thats massive! well done!.
i am going to start statics again... i have mixed feelings for it.

 

[blueface]

Congrats! I have only gone to 4:30 and I seem to have hit a wall. I have done past 4 several times but it's at the end of a long O2 table exercise. I am wondering if I should force it alittle more (tolerate the strong contractions) or try another training technique. What are your thoughts?

Thanks !

Skip Perry (Blueface)

 

[sayNO2o2]

i think tolerating strong contractions is a given. i find that 1/3 of my hold is putting up with string contractions. i try to hold them back but give in to them. statics just are not fun. but feels great after you p.b.

 

[blueface]

Thank you for the response. I guess now it's a question of how many contractions. On occaision I have not felt contractions until just past 3 minutes. When the contractions get strong I seem to lose concentration and it becomes a psychological battle. Any tips would be welcome.

Thanks again!

 

[bite ya]

You can see on my blog how i did it and track my training progress each week. I am very much still experimenting with all sorts of techniques, diets, breath up's etc until i find the right one. Each week is like opening a new page of a book which ends up being either rubbish, dangerous or worked great! This is why i diarise my training each week so i can see what worked and what didn't!

When i started i used the amount of contractions i took as a target to beat each week. Once i started taking up to 80 contractions (most of which were taken extremely quickly) i used the amount of slow contractions i take as a target. Starting with 10 very slow contractions then rushing through the rest then 20 slow contractions then rushing through the rest and so on...

I used tables once or twice but didn't seem to get the point of them? I know they build tolerance up but i think regular training dry / wet builds tolerance up anyway.

I have also found recently that after i have taken the max contractions and i push i little more beyond them (panic mode) everything seems to get very peaceful, contractions stop and the hold goes into a new phase? Not sure if other people experience this? Maybe very close to B.O? I can usually buy an extra 40secs out of this phase and each week i extend this phase into new unchartered waters (hopefully staying concious at the same time)

It is about mental toughness, i think if you can stay down long enough to be close to hypoxic (SAFELY) the rest is down to abillity of your own body. Push it hard once a week and see what happens, listen to how your body copes and what it's telling you and then adjust if needed. If you find your hitting a barrier then change something even if it seems small.

I definatly no expert, just sharing my experiences

Thanks
Chris

 

[blueface]

Thanks Chris and I will check out your blog.

Skip

 

[Stephan Whelan]

Well done Chris! Been a while since I last saw you but it looks like you've got the bug big style!

 

[sayNO2o2]

hey bite ya,
great blog! a few questions if i may?

in your blog you talk about prep for static is always acidic, how do you mean? i understand that your diet is acidic pre training but is it you warm up that you are talking about? is it that you only breathe for a short time between holds?

also i dont understand how you mean when you say "At the end of my hold i went back into panic mode as last week but as soon as i had exhaled half a lung full everything went very calm again buying me another 40secs!"
i guess i have to try it. but do you think it gave you an extra 40sec or just made you feel more relaxed?

i am going to start training static again next week so i am a sponge for info.

thanks for your help

 

[bite ya]

When i talk about prep, i mean diet in-take before i train. I usually have a big intake of acidic foods 3hrs before i train. As for my resting times between holds i always keep these down to 2mins, so yes they are short rest periods.

In reference to the end of the hold, it's hard to explain as the sensation is new to me. It almost feels like i can't possibly take no more that i have to come up but i stay metally strong and confident my safety will sort me out if i B.O and ride the panic out, i think during the panic i let out some air which vent's off some Co2 which puts the need to surface back slightly? I put everything in place incase i B.O and just go for it! Each week in increase this time at the end and i'm sure i will find my limit soon!

Tomorrow i am going to try and vent some air off at 50 contractions before i go into panic mode and see if it has the same effect, that way the hold looks more controlled. I want to compete next year and want to be able to satisfy the judges that i'm in control and not freaking out and get a disqualification!

I'll try and get a video on my blog this week.

 

[sayNO2o2]

hey thanks 4 the info.

interesting about the venting. i will have to give it a shot.
keen to know how you go.

i have not done a big static for about 2 months and have done alot of dynamic training in that time so am keen to see if it has helped any.

thanks again

 

[bite ya]

I'm vis versa, been doing loads of static. Although i alway do dynamic after my statics i never push them as hard as i should.

Going to the pool tonight to get some video's done for my blog. Starting prepairing now. Just tucking into a big bowl of noodles and my cup of green tea with huge amounts of lemon juice in (god is gross!! The things we do a?)

 

[sayNO2o2]

so you eat before you static? how long before? i eat before i dynamic. one small bowl of pasta. about 3hours before i swim. i will sip sport drinks right up to 10 min from top time.

how did you go to night?

 

[bite ya]

I generally eat up to 4hrs - 5hrs before, i used to stop eating up to 12hrs before but couldn't bear the headaches any more. I then take in quite a bit of acidic (drink) 2-3hrs before in train. Then a nice trip to the kebab shop stright after training (yum yum) as i'm usually starving by then and need to stop my stomach from eating itself internally!

Performance was o.k tonight but i'm just coming out of a bit of "man flu" and my chest wasn't feeling that great. 6min 03sec static and 100mtr dynamic. The static felt hard mentally not as easy as before and had to work hard. Dynamic felt easy and should have turned for 125mtrs. Not my strongest night. I've posted the video's on my blogspot.

Chris