BREATH WORK

BREATHING IS A BIG THING when we're maxing out our capabilities.  I've tried nose only, focusing on expanding my diaphragm, and belly breathing.  I'd like to...

... blame the belly breathing.

That was my first attempt at improving my ability to process oxygen.

I shamelessly blamed that method for my potbelly and Surfergirl's constant request during photos...

... Hold your belly in.

I am! 

It's hard to hold back 30 lbs of blubber.

I felt like The Little Dutch Boy,
only my dike was about to break.

During this belly breathing era, you know where your belly is expanding and contracting in an exaggerated fashion...

... me rubbing legs would wear off the anodized color on the sides of my seatpost,
and my knees would bounce off said belly.

Hard to be aero when belly is in the way.

Maybe belly breathing wasn't that effective?

It took about 5 years to change that.

Not the breathing,
the belly.

But, the most rapid changes happened when I decided to go for it on the local, hilly time trial through the canyon.

While I was shedding lbs,
my coach at the time,
insisted I change.

She wanted me to stop allowing my belly expand like a water balloon attached to a faucet...

... instead, focus on expanding my diaphragm.

Bring the diaphragm down to make room for my expanding lungs.

I didn't see the point.

However, when I did that, and it took some getting used to, I noticed I was more relaxed on the bike and breathing easier...

... when riding at threshold, tt pace.

To this day, I think about that era and occasionally find myself consciously practicing the technique.

As for the nose breathing, which she (the coach) also prodded me to do, I never got the hang of it when going at a pace above Zone 1.  I do practice it when at my desk, or reading, or stretching.

It could be anatomical, or mental, or laziness...

... I gave it a shot.

The kids, in the pic above, can't remember the day Surfergirl snapped a pic of me 30 years agon, shirtless, bent over, holding their hands...

... Who were they with? I cluelessly asked.

I didn't even recognize myself when we got the pics back a month or so later.

Changing things like breathing and bellies is fun to try...

... and often makes a positive difference in performance.

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162.1
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Presses
20 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling 
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