Warning about overtraining

[fabikp]

Hi everybody, as a part of my freediving training I used to perform apnea runs up the hill, usualy during low season. The purpose was to improve my breathhold time and to get used to elevated level of lactic acid. For several years of this practise everything went ok. Then about 4 years ago I had been training really hard: 3 or 4 times per week, 1 hour each, apnea run about 80 meters up quite steep hill with about 3 min. rest (10 repetitions every session). It was quite exhausting, but I felt fine the following day, so there was no problem to continue. I know it sounds like overtraining - and it was. As a result after 3 months of this training my breathhold improved, but not my lactic tolerance - just the opposite: I became very sensitive to any higher level of lactic acid. Now I must start any physical activity (no breathhold) very slowly and increase the pace gradualy to get rid of pain in my legs even in flat run or going up the stairs. It have been lasting for 4 years and I have tried everything: short rest, long rest, mild training, massage, stretching - nothing helped. I mean this post as warning about overtraining. Have a nice time, Pavel