I have been wondering about CO2 levels as well; when pool training I usually work with fins at a breath interval which depends on the length of the pool, either 50M or 25M.
On a 25M pool I don't train CO2 with underwater swimming--I like doing sets of 100M crawl, breathing every 9 strokes (my normal is every 3 or 5) with a full exhale at each flipturn, intensity at the upper end of medium. Ten seconds rest between each 100. My exercise intensity on this set is too high to experience any MDR but as far as CO2 and lactic build-up it REALLY works for me. The constant turns make it harder; the set is much easier for me in a 50M pool. I have been using this set for a warm-up, afterwards I move into lower intensity work that is more apnea.
With a 50M pool, dynamic lengths full lung or FRC with a 4-5 breath interval (very slow and very deep) seem to work well for me. I worked that this last weekend and felt like I was getting a decent CO2 build-up, but also a certain amount of hypoxia; my training partner left so I didn't push too far. I want to work up to doing 100M dynamic laps, I think I am about to that point but even though I am training in a pool with a lifeguard I don't always have a training partner in the water, and for schedule reasons mostly train in a shallow 25M pool. I do very little full lung apnea training in a the 25M pool--mostly exhale laps with one inhale/exhale between each length.
I am planning to get a pulse O2 meter this next week so I can check levels when training. I am growing curious as to the different sensations--what is related to low O2 vs high CO2.
Like others on here have mentioned, I do much better with warm-up; the beginning of the workout is the most difficult/uncomfortable for me and it *feels* (again why I want to check in with a pulse O2 meter) progressively easier until the lactic acid build-up begins to interfere. Or I just get too cold. Once I am warmed up and relaxed my pulse rate is very low.
Any tips on using an oxymeter?
On a 25M pool I don't train CO2 with underwater swimming--I like doing sets of 100M crawl, breathing every 9 strokes (my normal is every 3 or 5) with a full exhale at each flipturn, intensity at the upper end of medium. Ten seconds rest between each 100. My exercise intensity on this set is too high to experience any MDR but as far as CO2 and lactic build-up it REALLY works for me. The constant turns make it harder; the set is much easier for me in a 50M pool. I have been using this set for a warm-up, afterwards I move into lower intensity work that is more apnea.
With a 50M pool, dynamic lengths full lung or FRC with a 4-5 breath interval (very slow and very deep) seem to work well for me. I worked that this last weekend and felt like I was getting a decent CO2 build-up, but also a certain amount of hypoxia; my training partner left so I didn't push too far. I want to work up to doing 100M dynamic laps, I think I am about to that point but even though I am training in a pool with a lifeguard I don't always have a training partner in the water, and for schedule reasons mostly train in a shallow 25M pool. I do very little full lung apnea training in a the 25M pool--mostly exhale laps with one inhale/exhale between each length.
I am planning to get a pulse O2 meter this next week so I can check levels when training. I am growing curious as to the different sensations--what is related to low O2 vs high CO2.
Like others on here have mentioned, I do much better with warm-up; the beginning of the workout is the most difficult/uncomfortable for me and it *feels* (again why I want to check in with a pulse O2 meter) progressively easier until the lactic acid build-up begins to interfere. Or I just get too cold. Once I am warmed up and relaxed my pulse rate is very low.
Any tips on using an oxymeter?
(just joking, I know what you mean)
