How I did it: I started a basic interval-by-interval plan to help increase how long I could hold my breath.

Before I started training, I did a practice run to see my before-training time. I got about 1:40. I decided to start my first week at 10-second intervals (0:10, 0:20, 0:30), and do 3 sets on weekdays, and 2 sets on weekends, holding my breath 5 times per set. I had to stop training for a week, though, because I went on vacation, and I was given no time to train.

I began at a fresh new start the following week, at 12-second intervals up to 1 minute. Sometime mid-week, I woke up, and was not able to take in deep breaths without my chest area hurting. I knew the reason was my training, but I didn't want to stop, so I just reduced the amount of training down to 2 sets everyday.

The next week, I did 14-second intervals up to 1:10. The next week, 16-sec up to 1:20, and this past week, 18-sec up to 1:30.

I decided today that I would add to my training. Every Saturday, I would do 1 normal set of 5 breaths, then the second set would be infinite intervals, or at least until I couldn't hold my breath any longer. So, today, I did 1 normal set, and then, I did breath-holds of 0:18, 0:36, 0:54, 1:12, 1:30, and added 18 seconds as many times as my body would allow. I was able to go to 1:48, 2:06 (beating the goal, was extremely excited at this point), and finally cracked out at 2 minutes and 24 seconds.

Lessons & tips: Try the internet and other resources for info on this type of stuff, and have a set plan, unless you're one of those people who works better by just wingin' it.

A really important term to look up on Youtube or Wikipedia is 'static apnea'. Another term to try is 'AIDA'.

Resources: - my body
- my idea to have a plan
- my plan
- Wikipedia and Youtube for info on static apnea, dynamic apnea, and other competitions

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Jul 11, 2010, 12:41AM PDT | 0 comments | 4 cheers