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Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kane Mcguire on February 05, 2012, 06:48:45 pm

Title: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Kane Mcguire on February 05, 2012, 06:48:45 pm
i hold my breath sometimes when racing and then have to stop because cant get breath back. absolutely stuffed! anyone else have this problem and how did they overcome it?  when i was the u.s.a watching the pros, lots of them had "breathe" written on their crossbar pads. so it must be common.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: sudman on February 05, 2012, 07:00:27 pm
It's very common in most sports, I had went I was kid racing mx what I did to over come it was to start puffing(in out, not to fast) sitting on the start gate and keep it going till end of the race I still do today some 35years later. ;D
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: allan hughes on February 05, 2012, 08:07:23 pm
go faster into the corner
scare the f##k out of yourself
and your heart will takeover


Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Ktm181 on February 06, 2012, 03:36:59 pm
i hold my breath sometimes when racing and then have to stop because cant get breath back. absolutely stuffed! anyone else have this problem and how did they overcome it?  when i was the u.s.a watching the pros, lots of them had "breathe" written on their crossbar pads. so it must be common.
I MUST be part on your pre-start ritual, it must be part of you're visualisation technique, it must be part of your practise riding, you TELL yourself to BREATH, REGULARLY, when you ride, you'd be amazed how many people tense up and dont, breath on various sections of track, scream at yourself if you have to. BREATH. BREATH. eventually you WILL relax and breath. Various relaxation technique helps as well. I still do laps of my favourite mx tracks(Dargle,Jilliby,Bilpin,Katoomba,Amaroo..depends on the night!) at night in my head and along with that i visualise the breathing part, i'm 52 and sleep like a baby for 8 hours!

Happy trails,
Kt.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: jerry on February 06, 2012, 03:44:00 pm
And I thought I was the only one with this problem........... J
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Freakshow on February 06, 2012, 04:18:23 pm
I just talk to myself and the flaggies as i go round... ohhh yer and shoot at other compeditors.   :P

works for me problem now fixed.  Just got to work on the riding skillz now
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: John Orchard on February 06, 2012, 04:19:51 pm
It was always a problem for me, the experts say that the brain has nore computing performance if it doesn't have to think about breathing as well. plus it cuts out a lot of muscles working while you save your ass.

When training hard, it wasn't for after 15 min that I could get into a constant breathing pattern; I would be out of breath until I would breath properly.

On my roadrace bike I start concentrating on a deep breathing pattern and it soon becomes automatic during a race..... until I have an out-of-the-seat experience  :-)
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: John Orchard on February 06, 2012, 04:22:41 pm
I think you'd have to be careful of the opposite happening also; too much air and hyperventilating.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Curly3 on February 06, 2012, 05:36:17 pm
What Freaky said, talk to yourself like you're giving a running commentary.
It was something I never noticed 30 years ago, but I rode Speedway, if you were good you could do a whole race on one breath, pretty much.
Over the last 2 years I've done the 25 lap race at Nepean and found that I had to remind myself to breath and to relax on the straights, cramping up is my big problem.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Taka 100 on February 06, 2012, 06:36:44 pm
i went to see a hypnotherapist and he had me before an event sitting in a place that i was comfortable with and conciously breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth,deep breaths ,  close your eyes and think that you are riding on a track you really love and relax until you are so relaxed that colours come in and out of your mind , nice and calm relax  think that your just cruising around then open your eyes get on that sucker click 2nd gear drop the and hammer full tap the rest just wing it . :o :o :o ;)
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: dkupf on February 06, 2012, 07:13:33 pm
I used to have a note on the inside of my hand protectors telling me to breathe.If you want get a pit board with breath on it and every time you come over the table-top in Yeppoon I'll wave it at you ;) Darcy.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: mudguard on February 06, 2012, 07:25:25 pm
Some years ago I decided to get a fav song in my head at the start line, just to settle the nerves, then sing it as I rode around the track. Firstly it gets you breathing, and secondly no one can hear you. Probably why I'm not at the pointy end of the field, might need to change my choice of music.   ;D
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Kane Mcguire on February 06, 2012, 08:37:59 pm
excellent. some good ideas to try.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: brent j on February 06, 2012, 09:57:46 pm
As silly as this sounds I yell instructions to my self.

"Get on the gas NOW, don't touch the brakes it's wasting time, Now, BRAKE hard, turn, go that  way, get over there in that line, don't coast, get on the gas or on the brakes etc etc.

Some of the other guys on the track think it's funny but it does make me breath and concentrate on my riding.

Doesn't make me any faster though....................
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: VMX247 on February 06, 2012, 11:48:37 pm
It's very common in most sports

Interesting read..
http://www.westcoastmastersaussi.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95:breathing-technique&catid=35:coaching&Itemid=58
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: crankpin on February 07, 2012, 04:54:47 am

I find pulling over for a fag really helps me.

Also shouting at photographers "don't point that fekking thing at me" also has good effect.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: NR555 on February 07, 2012, 11:12:50 am
I talk myself around the track as well.  Remind yourself to stay loose on the bike, relax the death grip, keep it smooth, encourage yourself to chase the guy in front etc.  I've had a suprising amount of holeshots after a big 'C'MON' as the 5 second board goes sideways..

I think you'd be surprised how many people talk to themselves under their helmet.

I remember asking a particularly fast junior why he whips his bike sideways at every possible opportunity, he just told me it helps him relax & makes him feel like he's the best rider out there.  Whatever floats your boat man!

The breathing thing comes from nerves too.  Race more.  Just race anything you can enter.  Doesn't matter if you have no chance of winning, it's all about the act of going to the start, the gate dropping and actually racing.  Racing will become more like just riding, and you'll just get into it.  Plus, you'll get fitter doing 7 or so races in one day..  ;D
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Freakshow on February 07, 2012, 11:31:52 am
GReat topic.  great link out to Ali, thats an interesting read too.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: EML on February 07, 2012, 01:58:08 pm
I tried to give it up -nearly died.

Get yourself onto a sidecar for some practise-it's great for checking out lines and for watching how other guys (both on the outfit you're on and the ones around you) are doing what they do. AND it gives you time to check out what you are up to-do I need to breathe more/less-where and how to have a rest and all sorts of other stuff (how good looking is that pit bunny on the left :D) 
Give it a go.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: mick25 on February 07, 2012, 05:36:39 pm
Some good replys on this topic ;D
Looks like I better come out behind the tool box and say i have talked to me self at times under the helmet ???
when racing..
I Say quotes Like ,get up ya barstard, Have a bloody go you mug ;D
Shit another bike has just passed me  :D
come on kiwi give it to these ozzys ;D
saves holding your breath.........
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Curly3 on February 07, 2012, 06:01:39 pm
" Pulling over for a fag "
We're not intereted in sexual preferences, no wonder you don't want to be photographed. ;) :D
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: EML on February 08, 2012, 06:50:26 pm
very good Slider.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: brent j on February 08, 2012, 07:04:50 pm
Some good replys on this topic ;D
Looks like I better come out behind the tool box and say i have talked to me self at times under the helmet ???
when racing..
I Say quotes Like ,get up ya barstard, Have a bloody go you mug ;D
Shit another bike has just passed me  :D
come on kiwi give it to these ozzys ;D
saves holding your breath.........

Looks like we can yell at each other at the Lakes then eh? ::)
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: crankpin on February 08, 2012, 07:08:14 pm
" Pulling over for a fag "
We're not intereted in sexual preferences, no wonder you don't want to be photographed. ;) :D

 ;D
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Tim754 on February 08, 2012, 11:50:41 pm
Try a diversion method, squeeze hard and shit your nylons takes your mind off lack of breath ;)
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: TT5 Matt on February 09, 2012, 03:45:57 am
good one Tim ;D ;D never had trouble breathing whilst racing mx and long track but always was busting for a piss whilst in the line up before the race i was in only to return after the race to the pit crapper and have no need to piss again,always felt good to finally get that 1st piss out ;D and get into serious racing ;)
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: STW996 on February 09, 2012, 10:58:46 am
Im with NR555, Im a talker.

Hey Kenny Powers you related to Max Powers at all?
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: tr3nt on February 09, 2012, 03:37:02 pm
Never really noticed but now i think about it im also a talker. I tend to give myself some motivation like "i need to pass this guy in the next 2 corners" and stuff like that.
Title: Re: holding my breath while racing. how to fix it?
Post by: Marc.com on February 09, 2012, 03:46:31 pm
have you thought about Yoga, a lot of MX riders especially the injured ones use it as a training method plus it is all about proper breathing.

A good Yoga session will have you sweating like a hog, if you want to ratchet it physically up try Power Yoga or Hot Yoga in a warm room......and a final benefit is there are  lot of fit girls in tight lycra bending their Camel Toes over in front of you.....Namaste  ;D