The Most Important Ingredient to Increase Your Endurance

By Vince Palko

I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon this past year. For those of you who aren't familiar with the sport... it's a 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run (performed in that order).

A BIG check mark placed next to that goal– Mission Accomplished!

Though they had to clock me with a sun dial on the swim, I was happy as a clam to exit the water and get to the other two events.

Cheri pointed out something significant. “While most of those guys were perfecting their technique at their lifeguard jobs in the summer, you were out smacking around tailbacks. Don't worry, you'll get there.”

Very true. I never thought of it like that.

My goal was to catch and pass as many people as I could, being that I had a slow start.

I noticed something about everyone I passed ('cept one). I couldn't hear them breathe– it was if they were non-existent. As a result they had short, low strides. One cat looked like the guy on the Gatorade commercial where at any moment his body was going to seize up.

Most people think that breathing is a given when running. When really out of about 25 people I passed only one person doing it correctly.

 

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And here's evidence that it works. I felt my left quad cramp and tighten
at mile one. I was getting a bit nervous being that I had several miles yet to go. I realized I wasn't breathing. As a result I could feel the lactic acid building up. So I began breathing in a rhythmic pattern. Deep inhales and exhales. Then shorter ones. Very soon after I could feel the cramping vanish.

This is the single best tip I can offer: DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE.
I have no soreness today. That’s a direct result of no lactic acid building
up in my muscles due to improper breathing. This is TRULY amazing considering a Clydesdale body (230lbs) like mine taking all the pounding it did.

I remember running by one gent who was virtually silent and I
shouted, “Don't forget to breathe.” He muttered something under
his breath and I kept on truckin’.

Staying strong in the latter part of the race would not have been
possible if it wasn't for my Combat Conditioning work. I focused
on Hindu Squats over the last several weeks to build strength
where I needed it most in my legs and am glad I did! It all paid off
when I passed those people one by one (as if they were standing still).

Be sure to stop by Success Visuals to get your own set of Combat Abs Posters and Royal Court posters. These suckers will light up any room, keep you motivated and focused to reach your fitness goals as soon as you hang them.

Stay focused & motivated, and ahem ... DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE.

 

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