Breathing like a horse at Vo2max

Sometimes when I am doing Vo2max intervals, i start to instinctively breath like a horse does, not breathing our quickly but kind of blubbering out through semi closed lips.

I am guessing this has something to do with increasing pressure inside the lungs- would this aid oxygen transfer ?

It usually happens about 2.5 to3 minutes into a 5 minute interval, usually when really pushing it, and more so in the first intervals of a set.

Take the bit out of your mouth and it will open easier.

Neigh, that won't work. When you've got a good gallop going and you're hoofing it down the road you just gotra do what you gotta do..

I'm not sure how exhaling like that would increase oxygen transfer but hay, if it works for you keep at it... Just don't come whinnying if you find out that breathing normally works better.

Did you know that a racehorse can produce ~ 15, 000 watts for 4 minutes.

Wow, that's over 20 horsepower!

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Or 180 ml/kg/min.

Yeah, that does seem a little high.

According to wiki:

Whoops you are right- it did seem very high. The 15,000 was calculated using pounds as KG, so it is 2.2 times too big.

Should actually be ~6500 Watts at V02max.

Wow, that's almost 9 horsepower!

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Yes but where does horsepower come from- it is an industrial specification- as in how many horses do i need in a windlass to turn a piece of machinery.

If i were to strap an average joe to windlass and ask him to power a piece of machinery most of a day, how many watts do you think i could rely on him to could pull ? Maybe 60 watts ?

Or not far off 1/9th what a top class persuiter would pull.

Means your doing them right!

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Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/

Can you elaborate ? Or do you just mean it is an outward sign of busting your gut.

Tonque in cheek, but essentially they are frigging hard and if done properly will leave you a quivering jellyfish post ride or to keep with the horse theme totally knackered.

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Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/

Well maybe I am going too slow. I usually feel on top of the world, full of endorphins, and end up hobbling around with a cheesy smile that is completely at odds with the pain in my legs.

Sounds like a level 5 effort but a true VO2max efforts means at Wmax like a 2-4km pursuit. Don't tell too many people about your success with L5 training as it is a bit part of my training programmes

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Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/