Pool training motivation

[naiad]

I find that it is very important not to force myself to do training which is unreasonably difficult or frustrating. If I am having a bad day, I just give up, or do an easy table. Now I can't do much dynamic training because I have had a chest infection, but I did about 15 or 20m at a time yesterday. That was as much as I could do without pushing myself. I could have pushed myself to do more, maybe 30m, but this would reinforce in my mind the idea that dynamic training is about being desperately tired. Maybe on one of those precious days when the pool is reasonably warm and I am feeling well, I will do more. A few weeks ago I was doing lots of max attempts and PBs, and it was one of the few times when I enjoyed dynamic training.

Lucia

 

[pelagicbeing]

Jorg,

i agree with Kars, everything is interlinked and interdependent. I have being training in a martial art for apprx. 15 yrs, and it is a well known fact that a persons outlook / values in life directly effects their body movement and general ability within the art, which i have witnessed in myself and others. Maybe it is the same for freediving? In which case looking at other areas of your life outside of freediving as well may well help you get back what you lost?

I think its easy to over analyse too much. Remember lengths depths + times are just measurements, man made ones at that (they dont exist in nature.) Keep it simple, relax have fun, just try gently focussing on the moment, then nothing else matters.

Better stop there before i start growing a beard + long hair and handing out flowers.

Go easy on yourself.

Pelagicbeing

"whether you think it matters or whether you think that it does not....your right"

 

[wes]

Jorg,

I have found a new "love" in my pool training. I do 2x25m (50m total) on 90 second intervals. Sometimes I go quickly (with plastic bi-fins) so I am in the water 45 seconds and recovering 45 seconds, sometimes I go slow and relaxed so am in the water 60 seconds with 30 seconds recovery. Its very nice to do this for 15 or 30 minutes and you can watch the clock to count laps, 15 minutes is 10 reps of 50 meters each. Sometimes I do this for 60 minutes so is 40 reps or 80 laps of 25 meters or 1000 meters or 1 km. I started with 2 minute intervals and reduced it down to 90 seconds, I want to get a monofin and maybe shave it down to 60. Anyway its simple relaxing and fun. Cheers Wes

 

[ggarrett]

Jorg,

I have found a new "love" in my pool training. I do 2x25m (50m total) on 90 second intervals. ..... Cheers Wes

I have been doing something similar with my DNF. Recently, however, instead of binding myself to the clock, I count the breaths between DNF lengths. This feels like a more natural way to pace the intervals. It also allows me to focus more on my body and on breathing. What I found is that I end up reducing the time between intervals as I progress further into a set.

Today, I took around twelve breaths between DNF lengths. The recovery-prep interval usually consisted of six cleaning/recovery breaths, then a couple deep normal breaths, followed by about four quicker purging type breaths. I did a kilometer this way. In the past I have worked on reducing the number of breaths as a variation to the routine.

The other variation I do during DNF is to count strokes. One variation is to go fast by taking five strokes. The other variation is to go slow by taking two to three strokes. One works the muscles and one works on apnea control.


Swimming always amazing me by infinite variations one can do in just swimming lengths of the pool over a period of time. If it starts to get monotonous, some new twist always arises as a challenge. Always something new. That's what I love about it.

Peace,
Glen

 

[naiad]

I used to do something similar. It is a great way of training and not boring at all.

 

[samdive]

Hey Jorg
Sorry I haven't seen this thread before

I have exactly the same problem with the whole "I am the trainer" thing but with me it has hit my deep training big time too.

We (saltfree and me) are trying to sort this out and one way is to designate a leader each time you meet in the pool or the open water - so its not always you. At SaltFree there are 5 or 6 or so people now who I trust to be in charge, and if they're in charge then I do my best to leave them to it (not always easy). We take turns to be in charge so it doesn't fall to anyone person to often.

In the pool - I don't get much opportunity these days as I am travelling so much but what I did in the end was try and have some pool sessions for helping others - where lots of the regulars turned up - and some when it was just me and whoever I could persuade to spot me. Its almost better if that person is not a freediver, just a good friend who is happy to stand over your static or chase you up and down the pool with a snorkel - and of course knows what to do if the s**t hits the fan.... the best thing is that if they are not a freediver then they are ALWAYS impressed by your performance... even if it is half your PB!!!

I recommend finding a non freediving buddy who likes you enough to spend time in the water with you - or just can be persuaded to do that by you getting them dinner/beer/whatever afterwards!

One other thing that helped was to stop thinking that just because I could sort out other people's dive problems, I could sort out my own..... Probably the best (and most productive in terms of performance and comfort in the water) part of my whole freedive experience was a week of training (yes, me getting training, not GIVING training!) with Lotta Ericson in Dahab last year. Maybe its time to go and do some work on yourself - with her, with PFI, or come to SaltFree..... get someone outside your normal freedive circle to have a look and offer help. One other thing is that when you are in an environment where you are the trainer, very few people will be bold enough to offer critique on your performance, even if you do ask for it.

Its not quite what you are after but another thing that helped was getting into fin swimming. Now on the days when I am bored of freediving, I see how fast I can swim UW..... or try working on technique. All a lot more interesting than continually getting disappointed with lack of PB!

have fun - hope that helps somehow

Sam