Training Update...

Quick update in my training. Work has taken over once again which has made finding the time to train hard but i have stuck with the Co2 tables. I increased them by 10secs on each hold but found that only 4 rounds was too low. Tonight i went up to 8 rounds and kept the hold times the same. I found that i didn't have so many contractions so tomorrow I'll be adding on a another 20secs to each hold. The good news is i can hit the pool on Friday with Basildon Diving Club and i also have a long weekend off work. Planning on hitting the gym on all three days, again working on O2 deprivation whilst training and double up on Co2 tables each day.

Off to the doctors tomorrow to get my Freediving medical updated, once this is done i can send off my application for the Liverpool comp.

Liverpool Comp, more red cards...

Liverpool on Sunday didn't go very well for me, not my year! The comp was set up by Steve Millard and was an awesome comp. The way it was set up, run and delivered was a credit to him and all involved. I had done no static or dynamic training for this but felt o.k to compete and found myself with little nerves which was a great comfort after the nerves i suffered on my first competition. I had targeted myself with around 5mins in static and wanted to have a go at 150mtr in dynamic giving the pool was 50mtr and i wouldn't have to turn so much as my previous 133mtrs in Camberwell last year.

I entered the water 25mins before my O/T time and went through 3 easy warm up's and then got myself ready for the last hold. I went through the hold o.k and contractions started and around 3mins 30secs. I started counting them and got my first tap at 4mins and then one every 15secs. After 4min 30sec i found that the taps were quicker than anticipated and felt something was wrong, i let a little air out and thought I'd push to 5mins then come up, I'd be happy with the 5mins in a comp. As i lifted i found myself in the arms of both safety divers and had a go at them for touching me, classic stuff. "what you touching me for, i was recovering my samba". I wasn't, i had blacked out after a small samba/hypoxia Doh!

I felt terrible for pushing too hard and putting myself & others in that position, big learning curve this year. I was not allowed to enter the dynamic session after by the Doctor which was the right choice of which i had no issues with, there was no way i was going to take it easy on my dynamic as i really wanted my first 150mtr swim and would of ended up on the bottom of the pool.

On my way home i called to see how the rest of the comp went and was over the moon to hear what the mighty Dave King had done. Dave had set a new comp P.B of 6mins 58sec in static and then he hit a new NR in dynamic with a huge 217mtr!!! I believe there was some very emotional people including myself on the M6 at the time. Massive well done to Dave, it must of been awesome to watch. Dave is one of the most humble people i have met in freediving and he's accomplishments are a testament to him and his approach to this sport.

It was also great to see Emma Farrell again, Emma taught me on my first course in freediving at Deeper Blue.

On the drive home i thought over and over what went wrong and weighed myself when i got home. I had lost a 12lbs. Some due to Dahab belly bugs and some down to dieting two days before the comp. As i said lots to learn but glad to make the mistakes now and move on from them. As for Japan, well i think my first stab at a worlds can wait for another year.