Day 39 - Intensive period

Tomorrow starts my two weeks of vacation. I've made some plans to do more intensive training period. Now my routine has formed the following:

• Monday - 45min Yoga
• Tuesday - Stretch with packing + O2 Static
• Wednesday - 45min Yoga 
• Thursday - Stretch with packing + CO2 OR O2 Static
• Friday - Pool with depth + DNF
• Saturday - off
• Sunday - 2 hours pool with Dyn + DNF (sometimes max attempt)

I do feel the positive effects of training. Mainly I feel that my energy levels are up and dropping some weight and eating healthy has brought really positive mental uplift. The next two weeks of vacation I intend to do training twice a day. The morning starts with Yoga session, static or with pool training. On evening I intend to do gym, stretch or pool. After this there will be weekend's training camp, which consists of dynamic max attempt.

Another thing I should start doing is pool static. This can be done mostly on sundays, where I can get safety to watch me.

The target competition for Northern Apnea Games are getting closer. I feel excited but reassured due to all the training. I had a argument with my coach about if I should feel competitive and if I should have strong will to win the competition. This was when I declared my aim is to do my best solid performance.  I think all the top freedivers I have talked with don't think their performance as a competitive against other divers, if all, this is deemed counter productive. I still feel my approach is the best for me. I don't feel that my goal is to win anything or to be placed on any ranking position.

Weight -3kg.

Turns - day 25

Hard training pays off. I've been doing twice a week my yoga routine. There has been change in my state of mind. I could call this feeling transcendence. I do feel more relaxed, aware and less stressed. I've been working on my pranayama exercises and also meditation.

Today was sunday pool practice. Last week I got my new mono to test it out. It's hand made in Russia and I was convinced that it's better than Waterway Glide by someone who definitely knows his stuff. Oh and It is a beauty. Stifness is medium, so it's much more than my previous one. I tried to figure out the best way to turn. There seems to be two popular ways: Goran Colak style, where diver turns sideways and pushes from the poolside with no kick. Other one where diver turns sideways before turn and sweeps mono from below with a kick from poolside. With the new monofin, I do feel ready for the next long dyn dive. I should be able to surpass 2min dive time mark with ease. There is mini competition in three weeks so this will be my intermediate target.

Also I've been doing some walking statics to increase my dive times. Relaxation and mental preparations is important to emphasize. I read some older deeperblue posts by Eric Fattah where he describes techniques to block and prevent contractions. It would be nice to learn these because I do put lot's of effort to withstand the contractions (they start ~2mins in dry static).

Also more importantly, I did 84m pb for dnf today. For the first time I didn't have to think about technique, feet and hand positioning. I just concentrated on relaxation and it was easy dive. I was happy afterwards, because I've tried longer dnf twice on previous sunday practices and they've been failures (first time just gave up after 60m and next time mask filled of at 50m turn). 

Weight -1,6kg

Day 16 - Mindfulness

Okay, I started to worry too soon. Yoga has helped in multiple areas of health. I've sticked with yoga, pranayama and increased stretching. I have to say, I feel pretty good. I've been reading also some texts on meditation and mindfullness. I've also introduced them to my statics and walking apneas. I've prepared with with pranayama, listened some ambient sounds to relax and concentrated on passive observation of thoughts and environment during the apnea. During apnea there is different negative thoughts. You just try to observe them, accept them and let them pass as they come. This seems to do wonders for co2 tolerance and contractions.

Today I did 2:10 "dry" dynamic and 4:10 static just after it after few mins of rest.

I skipped pool for today and also I have to skip it for Sunday. I got stiches on my neck so can't go to pool due to risk of infection. Because of this, I will be going to dive under ice on Sunday instead. Sounds logical, eh?

Weight -1,5kg.

Day 12 - Failures

It's day 12 of my diet and yoga regiment. I've followed my routine and feel pretty good, with the exception that I've gained weight. Strange. I will continue with the same regiment for a week and make additional changes, if required. Last week I managed to implement my new yoga routine and it feels great. I did it twice last week with additional static training sessions. I also did regular pool practice twice.

I think I've figured out my dnf kick finally. It has taken quite a while. Now I have problem with hand placement when straightening the hands after pull and just before the kick. I tried to do longer dnf, but failed after the second turn when my mask moved out from my face. If it was competition I think I would had continued.

I've also ordered oximeter, which should make my static exercises more fun. I do hope to get it this week.