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Breathing a Little Easier
No one in El Dorado SAR will read this article, of course, because we never get out of breath. We scarcely notice a 300-pound patient in the litter. When offered a helicopter ride to the top of Pyramid Peak, they say, "No thanks. I'll walk." Did you know that El Dorado SAR volunteers are prohibited from running the Boston Marathon because last year they insisted on passing the leaders while wearing hiking boots?
OK, thank you for flying Fantasy Spacelines. We now return you to Earth, where health food is pizza without the olives, and where under-used lungs and legs may suddenly have to carry you up Horsetail Falls or Rockbound Pass.
If you've ever been there and done that, you may be interested in some instant fitness techniques that could improve your performance while you're on the trail, make you feel a lot better, and which anyone can do.
- When you exhale, BLOW your breath out. This increases the pressure inside your lungs, and forces more oxygen into your system.
- Breathe in time with your feet. The whole body seems to work better when its synchronized.
- Recite a cadence to yourself. Something like this works well:
Oh the beans in the Navy,
They say they're very fine,
One fell off the table,
And killed a friend of mine.
or try this new release:
Oh I wish I was a fit and healthy searcher
That is what I'd truly like to be
Cause if I was a fit and healthy searcher
Paul Duer wouldn't have to carry me.
- Focus on something you can see; notice every detail and distract yourself from your discomfort.
- This sounds silly, but it works: sing to yourself. Waltzing Matilda, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, or nearly any college fight song are good hiking songs.
In addition to these on-the-trail techniques, there are some things you can eat and drink that give you extra strength and stamina:
- Drink plenty of water before you hit the field, and keep drinking it during your search. Don't wait until you're thirsty - saturate your insides. (Some people say that this thins your blood out and lets it flow better. Whatever the explanation, it works.)
- Stick with water on the trail. Sodas, milk, Gator-Aid...they all have to be digested. Especially avoid coffee, tea and colas, because caffeine is a diuretic.
- Eat carbohydrates on a search; avoid fats. Things like pasta, bread, and potatoes are good - they give strong and lasting energy. Watch out for the fatty stuff you put on them (cheese, butter, sour cream). Fats are concentrated, but they burn slowly.
- Use sweets cautiously. They spike your blood sugar and give you a quick burst of energy, but you pay for it a few minutes later. The fuel runs out, your blood sugar shoots down lower than it was before, and you suddenly poop out.
These tips won't make you an instant marathon runner, but they will give you a performance edge when you have to hit the trail. |