No training today
My training for today is my continued effort to write in my blog everyday. I woke up and in last night’s hotel there was no pool. I did a show, drove home and missed the pool hours so I wasn’t able to swim at all today. I’m excited to get in the pool tomorrow though!
short swim
Today I was pleasantly surprised when I checked into my Montreal Hotel to find that it had a pool. Despite not having my goggles, I decided to go anyway. When I got down to the pool, I now surprised at just how small the pool was! It was hard for me to figure out which was the pool and which was the hot tub.
It was obvious which was which when I tested the temperature of the water. The pool was MUCH chillier than I was used to but I decided to go for it anyway. I remembered the words of my most adventurous friend Heidi and how she says, “no matter how cold the water is, just jump in… you won’t regret it.” She was right as she always is and despite the short pool, I got a nice work out in.
It was tough because as soon as I’d get my stride, it would be time to turn around again but I was happy to be in the pool nonetheless. After about 30 minutes of “length swimming” I worked for about ten minutes on more breath work. The nice and unusual part of this work out was that it ended in a hot tub.
Depending on when the pool opens tomorrow, I may try and get in for an early morning soak.
Learning to breathe underwater
Although my Down and Out stunt has not happened yet, I’ve decided to start training for a new stunt that I’m having built.
I’ve been in the pool everyday for the past few days learning to swim and hold my breathe. This was probably day ten of my under water training and I FINALLY had a breakthrough today.
Until today, I’ve been taking a deep breathe, going underwater, and although I know there is a good amount of air in my lungs, I’ve been letting it all out and going up for air.
I don’t know if it was out of panic or what but my body would just start to scream for air and I needed to listen. I would work on slowing my heart rate, trying to block everything out, basically what ever I could to hold on as long as I could. I would be lucky if I hit the 30 second mark.
Today, I started doing visualizations of my under canopy flight in California on a sunset load. I pictured myself pulling at a high altitude which gave me extra time under canopy to enjoy the view of the setting sun and snow peaked mountains. This calming and lonely place was great and it REALLY slowed my heart rate down. As soon as I started doing that, I was able to hold my breath for a little (and do mean a LITTLE) over a minute.
My goal in all of this is to eventually be able to hold my breathe for about four to four and a half minutes. Although that’s an absurd amount of time, I know that I’ll be able to at least come fairly close.
I’m excited to try this new technique tomorrow. The only way I’ll be able to get into the pool tomorrow though is if I wake up really early for a swim.
Eventually I’ll tell the lifeguards about my plans and see if they’ll let me in the pool (or kiddy pool) with restraints on. My plan for now is to become a familiar and friendly face around the pool.
This new stunt, which I’m not releasing much information about YET, should be pretty impressive.
