I've started training weekly at MSAC with a bunch of other freedivers. It's a fun bunch and they make training enjoyable, not that pool training isn't fun anyway... Last week was awful though. I was cold from the beginning and contractions were starting within seconds of starting an empty lung static. I couldn't even do a 30 second hold and 25m swim more than couple of times. Like most sessions, we finished with a few static holds in the warm pool. Sergey is the best of the group, he can do a very easy 3'30" and has been up to 4'30". I could only manage 2'05". Highlight of the session, woo! Not so much. It wasn't a good training session. That's okay though. Everyone has bad days sometimes.
This week, I was armed with not only a shortie wetsuit, but also a wetsuit jacket to go over the top and my kiteboarding booties. I undecided about whether I felt awkward or felt pro about wearing a wetsuit to a suburban pool. (1) My session started very well. Half-empty lung statics of 60" came pretty easily. Doing 25m with no fins was really easy too. I felt so good that I decided to go for a max. I knew I wanted to hit the big one-oh-oh. With Scotty watching from the side and Sergey in the pool, I donned my long fins and started a quick breathe-up. The first 25m was comfortable. I remember pushing off the wall for 50m, thinking that it came pretty early and being surprised how good I felt. 75m came and went. At 85m, I start to panic a little and increased my finning effort, rookie move. I was really feeling the lactic in my legs now. I made it to the next wall and decided that I had made it that far, I might as well turn around and push off.
Despite the panic, paradoxically, I also remember feeling supremely relaxed. It was like I was having a dream. I surfaced and my legs were shaking, just like I was shivering. My arms didn't shake much as I performed the surface protocol: I took my mask off, made the "OK" signal and said to Scotty "I'm okay". Boom, PB!
Scotty told me that it was clean, but a bit wobbly. It was only then that I realised that I did what is colloquially referred to as samba, just like the dance. The actual name for it is loss of motor control. It's pretty much a partial blackout. It's not dangerous unless it is strong enough that the freediver can't keep their airway above the water. I was a little bit hesitant to write about this for fear for whomever might read this (hi Mum, Dad). Pool training in reality is extremely safe. As I wrote about previously, the body is pretty good at protecting itself, and if it can't, my training buddy Scotty will. :)
I'm taking a bit of pride for being able to push myself. I don't see anything wrong with that. Although I may have ventilated slightly, I can be reasonably sure that my mental and physical tolerance for CO2 levels has increased. Coupled with my competitiveness and daredevil nature, I shouldn't be so surprised about pushing myself to samba this soon after starting freediving. Experiencing samba means ignoring the warning signs, so it's going to be something I think deeply about how to rectify.
- If I'm going to do a big swim, do a good breathe. There may have been a hit of hyperventilation in my breathing here because I didn't take the time to count it out.
- Don't sprint during a max! I'll internalise this with more training. It's seems like something I will go out of.
- Staying warm is so important.
- Learning to detect and acknowledge the signs of a blackout closely in should be a priority, especially when I start doing more long swims.
- Intense focus on making 100m was probably a factor. Attention should be what my body is doing rather how far away from the wall I am.
Saturday, February 16, 2013 0 Comments