I was wondering about this technique mainly because i have heard many elite runners doing this....i was wondering if this actually does any good for running? And if so, how would it help? What type of runs would this be most beneficial in? Thanks a lot......
Someone's pullin' your chain--even if the elite runners are doin'it,which I doubt, it's an absolutely idiotic idea.
Read about how the great runners of the 70's and early
80's trained---get ahold of the 70's issues of Runner's World magazine.Read and learn.
I have heard of this technique being used to coach sprinters in certain phases of their races. The body is supposed to maximize the oxygen inhaled to produce power for speed. The sprinters hold their breath for 20-25 meters slowly exhale for 5-10 meters and inhale again for 5-10 meters. The theory works like weightlifting. Inhale before and exhale during a rep. The person is not constantly breathing during a weightlifting rep.
Bsck in the 80's there was a Philly quarter miler that ran in the 45s-46s range holding his breath the whole time. He would often pass out after crossing the finish line. His coaches got him to concentrate on breathing by making him run with potato chips between his thumb and index fingers. They told him to run and not break the chips while training.
The Philly quarter miler story was covered by Sports Illustrated.
Reportedly, the great Zapotek practiced holding his breath during workouts. His idea was that he wanted to recreate the feeling of oxygen debt during his kick phase. Don't now if there is any science on this but you aren't alone. Of course, Zapotek also did crazy hard workouts.