Training Day 7, 8 & 9

I took Sunday off to rest and got back to it on day 8 & 9. Training Day 8 was spent in the gym working on my lower back and stomach muscles as well as my chest and biceps. I went home after the gym and done some more C02 tables which seemed a little easier than last weeks. Contractions started at about 1min 30 - 1min 40 which shows they are working and my tolerance to carbon dioxide is getting better. I done 2min holds as last week and reduced the breath ups down from 2mins - 1min 30 - 1min - 30sec - 15sec and 15sec again.

Training day 9 was spent in the gym again working on my back (inc lower back) stomach and triceps. I am hoping the lower back exercises are going to build some strength to form a better kick in dynamic and improve my performances. I then went home and repeated my C02 tables as yesterday.

I'm not feeling tired at all and finding the training o.k, I'm off to the pool again tomorrow and hopeful of another 125mtr dynamic and hopefully a 5min 20sec static.

I am still trying to arrange a day to go to the Camberwell pool which is where the championships are being held but haven't got an answer back from the organiser yet (Liv Phillips).

I spoke to Ben Noble this week (Australian Record Holder) reference my performances which gave me some confidence. Ben has given me some great advice over the last year or so and has always been there when i need him. It was always something explained to me that all freedivers would help each other out when i started this sport and that advice would always be available, i have found this not to be the case with most. I have a few people that have helped over the short time i have been pursuing my dream who have always been there and Ben is one of them (Thanks Ben)

Sam Kirby sent me over the AIDA rules which i have read reference static and dynamic, this was a great help as i was not sure about most of it!

Training Day 5 & 6

Training in just Co2 tables over the past two days and adding another hold in now between 2min and 1min but carrying on with the 2 reps of 15sec with 2min holds. Contractions starting between 1min 20sec and 1min 30secs. Not sure if i should now take these holds up to 2min 15sec to give myself more contractions?

Packing stretches after both session up to 20 packs, still slightly painful on my right side but these are what unlocks the secret to a good dynamic performance.

I'm gong to start to mix Co2 tables with o2 tables next week.

Sunday (training day 7) rest day.....

Training Day 4...

Training today went well as i think i was still on a high from my 125mtr dynamic set last night. I completed my apnea bike ride with 12mins of 15sec breath holds throughout.

Bike stats as follows..

Ave speed : 14.1mph
Dist : 5.27miles
Time : 22.25sec
Max speed : 22.1mph

I have now completed a total of 6hrs 46mins of cycling over 82.2miles.

Co2 tables went well using 2min holds with two lots of 15sec recovery's at the end and then going into packing stretches after which my daughter tried her hardest to tickle me whilst completing!! Another good day....

125mtrs Dynamic....

Last night at training i finally made my 125mtr dynamic freedive. I was using my new Hyperglide from Leaderfins with a hard blade. The swim felt fantastic and it was great to get to this target with over 5 weeks to my comp. On my first turn my goggles unfortunately filled with water but i carried on regardless. Turns were not great but when i turned at 100mtrs i knew i was going to make it to 125mtr. Before i went in to attempt this is carried out some packing stretches which helped me cope with any stress on my rib cage whilst keeping my hands firmly above my head during the dive although i was a bit out of shape on the last 25mtrs!!

Static training went o.k, i started with 3 FRV holds and then breathed up for 2mins and completed the following..

Hold 1 : 3mins 30sec
Hold 2 : 3mins 59secs
Hold 3 : 5mins 10secs

Breath up's were 2/4/2 for the first 2 holds and then slightly different for my last one were i purged a little more than normal. Contractions were taken to 20 for each hold and 35 for the last hold. I will carry on with the Co2 tables a i have only done them for two days and don't expect to see any significant changes or results just yet.

I'm really happy with the dynamic and hopefully i will be able to train regularly st 100mtrs and hit the 125mtr a few more times before the comp to give me enough confidence to try a 150mtr at the comp. Time will only tell.

Training Day 2

Day two was very similar to day one bike ride stats were as follows..

Ave Speed 13.4mph
Dis 5.29miles
Max Speed 21.2mph
Time 23.10sec

15sec holds / 15sec recovery for 12mins of ride.

Straight after i went into Co2 tables...

2mins NTB
2min hold
1min NTB
2min hold
30sec NTB
2min hold
15sec NTB
2min hold
15sec NTB
2min hold

I then went into packing stretches which felt good but slightly painful this time, i guess it's just stretching out parts i have not stretched before? All in all another good session, tomorrow I'm off to the pool for static training and dynamics which i will be pushing hard to improve on previous weeks.

Training Day 1

Training started today and went something like this....
(publicity of my training schedule will be kept to a minimum over the next 6wks due to comp)

Apnea Bike stats were a bit different than normal as i used a different route than i usually do. I started the ride with 15sec breath holds with 15sec recovery's in between for the first 10mins. Contractions started at about 10secs.

Max speed 24.1mph
Dis 5.59miles
Time 28mins
Ave Speed 13.6mph

The time was affected as i had to pop in to a friend whilst out training so tomorrow i will be back to my normal route, the 15sec holds felt hard but rewarding.

I then done some Co2 tables to start working on my carbon dioxide tolerance levels (i never usually touch tables but i think it's time to start doing something different as training lately has been poor in statics)

2mins NTB (normal tidal breathing)
2mins hold (no purging/hyperventilating) counter productive in tables
1min NTB
2min hold
30sec NTB
2min hold
15sec NTB (if you can call it that at this point!)
2min hold
15sec NTB
2min hold

I then went into packing stretches, packing 18 times and then reaching up/out/behind & sideways to really stretch out the parts of the body other air breathing humans cannot reach and then repeating again. All in all a good 1st training session and looking forward to tomorrow.