I get 10% faster after working out

[jaredye]

I've been practicing full CN recently and I usually get 21 seconds for 3x3. I notice I get so much faster right after I work out. My solves are mostly around 19 and I can hit 15 about 1/5 of the time.

I feel two things contribute to my better times. My turning gets much more precise right after working out. It's weird because my body is pretty tired, but somehow my brain has finer control of my finger muscles. Second is my brain is more active after working out. I can recognize pairs quicker than normal.

Have you guys experienced something like this? I mean some activity that stimulates your brain and you get better times after doing the activity. I haven't gone to any competition yet since I live in the remote mountain area but if I ever go I would probably go run for a mile before I do my solves.

 

[obelisk477]

andrenaline

 

[Hyprul 9-ty2]

i used to cube faster after drinking sprite. i quickly realized i was going to kill myself in the name of speedcubing so i quit that faster than feliks can solve a 2x2

 

[XTowncuber]

I suck after working out. Forearms too tired to fire quickly.

 

[Eduard Khil]

Next we'll see someone bring weights to a comp, and lifting them before their turn to solve.

 

[AlphaSheep]

If I had to guess, I'd say you turn slower because your muscles are tired, and that makes lookahead a little easier? Or it could just be coincidence...

 

[SenorJuan]

I wonder if Usain Bolt would run 10% faster if he did some speedsolving before taking to the track?

 

[efattah]

I have noticed the exact same effect, around 10% performance increase after working out. The window of improvement lasts around 2 hours after the workout. Most likely due to improved brain oxygenation and heightened motor activity.

There are other simpler tricks to cut 5% off your solve average; close your eyes for 30 seconds and take 5 deep breaths, holding for 5 seconds at the top of each breath. Then open your eyes and solve. Being a former competitive freediver we know all the tricks to improve your brain oxygen level and they are remarkably useful for cubing.

In some cases you can actually solve faster if you hold your breath for the solve (probably only true if you are sub-20 though; any longer and it is distracting). Bulgarians found the brain is more effective during short periods of not breathing.

Eric Fattah
BC, Canada

 

[SenorJuan]

Interesting reading, Eric.
Quote:"close your eyes for 30 seconds and take 5 deep breaths, holding for 5 seconds at the top of each breath."
That sounds a bit frantic, if you're holding your breath for 25 out of 30 secs, it doesn't leave much time for 5 deep in and out breaths?
Would practicing these breathing techniques regularly increase their effectiveness? or is it something that immediately works and practice has little effect? Should we work our way up to this '5 breaths/30 secs' level, by doing 2 breaths/10 secs etc for a week etc?
Any other tips?

 

[PenguinsDontFly]

I don't really notice any difference in my times after working out. The muscle pain is a little distracting and I have to sit in a different position so my shoulders are relaxed, but I turn with fingers and wrists so my solves are not effected.

 

[jaredye]

I think the reason I have this gain is because I haven't been cubing for too long. Cubing still takes quite some mental power for me, and the boost in oxygen consumption after workout can help my brain to perform this task better. If I were already so proficient in cubing to the point that I don't need to think much, then there probably wouldn't be much gain after physical activity.

I did some search and it seems there is lots of research on how exercise affect cognitive ability. According to this review paper (Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Processes: A Review, by Phillip D. Tompprowski and Norman R. Ellis) a large fraction of papers find physical exercise help cognitive ability either during or after the exercise.

 

[Turn n' burn]

Interesting reading, Eric.
Quote:"close your eyes for 30 seconds and take 5 deep breaths, holding for 5 seconds at the top of each breath."
That sounds a bit frantic, if you're holding your breath for 25 out of 30 secs, it doesn't leave much time for 5 deep in and out breaths?
Would practicing these breathing techniques regularly increase their effectiveness? or is it something that immediately works and practice has little effect? Should we work our way up to this '5 breaths/30 secs' level, by doing 2 breaths/10 secs etc for a week etc?
Any other tips?

For me (during solves) it goes more like 1. (hold breath) 2. (realize you're out of air) 3. (hyperventilate during pll)

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

For me (during solves) it goes more like 1. (hold breath) 2. (realize you're out of air) 3. (hyperventilate during pll)

Challenge accepted. I'm going to hold my breath for the entirety of a 4x4 solve.
*gets within 10 seconds of getting it*
*passes out for 10 minutes*

 

[efattah]

Interesting reading, Eric.
Quote:"close your eyes for 30 seconds and take 5 deep breaths, holding for 5 seconds at the top of each breath."
That sounds a bit frantic, if you're holding your breath for 25 out of 30 secs, it doesn't leave much time for 5 deep in and out breaths?
Would practicing these breathing techniques regularly increase their effectiveness? or is it something that immediately works and practice has little effect? Should we work our way up to this '5 breaths/30 secs' level, by doing 2 breaths/10 secs etc for a week etc?
Any other tips?

My point is your eyes are closed during the breathing process however long that takes.
It might take you a minute to do the breathing.
The effect is instant, does not improve with training. No point in 'working up' to it.

You can also try solving cubes while breathing enriched mixtures of oxygen. You will find an even greater benefit. Similarly, nootropic herbs and/or smart drugs help too, but I'd rather not list them as we don't want cubing to become a doped-up sport...

Eric Fattah
BC, Canada

 

[SenorJuan]

OK, that's a bit clearer, good to see that the very rapid deep breath is not actually a key feature of the method.
You still have me wondering why your eyes have to be closed.....
Enriched oxygen, eh? I have a friend who works at a nearby hospital, and he's told me that shortages of (full) oxygen cylinders are a serious problem. Maybe those pesky free-divers have been sneaking around?

I'll hold off considering 'Smart Drugs' until I'm more senior. Coffee will have to do.
It's worth noting that WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) have banned smart-drugs, so they likely do actually work, and it's not all marketing baloney.