Just Try Not to Breathe

Outside Podcast

Wilderness, Sports

4.3 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 22 March 2023

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There’s no more difficult or uncomfortable physical challenge than holding your breath underwater for an extended period. Which is why the Air Force has long made breath holds part of its training programs for parajumpers, or parachute rescue specialists. If your duty is to pull downed military personnel from waters all over the world, you need to prove your ability to perform in the most hostile and unforgiving conditions. In this classic episode from our archives, we join a parajumper candidate who finds himself facing elimination from training for the most surprising reason: he can hold his breath way too long. The Outside Podcast is made possible by Outside+ subscribers. Learn about the many benefits of a subscription and sign up now at outsideonline.com/podplus.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by REI Co-op, which believes that life outside is essential.
0:09.0	Research demonstrates numerous physical and mental benefits to heading out your door.
0:13.9	Unfortunately, one in three Americans simply don't have outside spaces close to where
0:19.4	they live.
0:20.7	Challenges range from a lack of public transportation to a highway that cuts off a neighborhood
0:25.3	from a park to systemic issues.
0:27.9	It's a problem that affects the entire country, which is why REI is on a mission to get every
0:33.6	American outside in five minutes or less.
0:37.2	The movement is called outside in five, and it includes a combination of support for
0:42.2	local community-led organizations and a national campaign to pass the outdoors for all act.
0:49.2	Whether it's re-greening city blocks, creating safe bike lanes, or simply making our outdoor
0:54.0	spaces more equitable, together we can make getting to the park, a walk in the park.
1:00.1	Learn more and take action at REI.com-forward-slash-outside-in-five.
1:13.8	From outside magazine, this is the outside podcast.
1:24.3	Think for a moment about the most difficult and uncomfortable physical challenge you've
1:29.4	ever taken on, a contest, or a race that really pushed you to the edge.
1:34.6	To the point where you felt like you just couldn't bear it, maybe it was something involving
1:39.8	extreme heat or cold, with that most excruciating feeling of holding your breath until you're
1:46.1	on the brink of blacking out.
1:48.3	Yeah, I'm Michael Roberts, and like a lot of people who play in the outdoors, I've been
1:53.5	held down by a wave in the ocean, and fallen out of rafts and kayaks into whitewater,
1:59.2	which means I've experienced the distinct pain and fear that comes with running out of air
	...

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