Chapter 12: Belly Breathing
"Are you sure we have to strap on these sandbags every time we run?" Hoobler asked, watching Rhys wrap another sand-filled bag around his leg. "And for the damn full-gear cross-country run, no less?"
Rhys finished securing the last sandbag, pulled his pant leg down to cover it so it was completely hidden, and clapped his hands together with a smile. "Yes, Hoobler. Did you think you could improve your fitness just by doing the regular training? No, no. The standard cross-country march is nothing to you now. Why not challenge yourself a little more? Strap them on, come on!"
Hoobler shrugged, then began strapping the sandbags to his own legs and arms. "To keep Captain Sobel from finding another reason to single me out, I guess I'll take your advice for now. I hope it works."
Because Hoobler wasn't a very big man, he tended to lag behind in many of the training exercises. Of course, Sobel wasn't about to give him any special consideration for his size. After getting chewed out several times, Hoobler decided to ask Rhys for help.
The initial result was that Hoobler was punished by Captain Sobel yet again. Even on the armed cross-country run, which he could previously just barely keep up with, he found it incredibly difficult after adding the sandbags.
"Damn it!" Hoobler grumbled, running slowly along the road by himself, his rifle on his back and sweat soaking through his uniform.
"Hey, Hoobler! Quit complaining. Nothing worth doing is ever easy." Just then, Hoobler heard a voice from behind him. He turned to see Rhys and White catching up.
"White, don't tell me you've bought into his methods too," Hoobler said, looking at White as he came alongside. "You know, sometimes I think Parks and Sobel have something in common."
"Yeah, I think so too," White laughed. "But his methods might actually work. Look at Parks. He used to be so weak, and now? He could probably take down a bull."
"No, two bulls," Hoobler chuckled.
"You're both wrong! I could never take down two bulls," Rhys said as they both looked at him. "But I could definitely take down three of them, Hoobler."
The three of them burst out laughing. With companions, Hoobler and White didn't feel so bad anymore.
"Alright, you two, pay attention to your breathing," Rhys said as they ran. "Follow my count, and we'll adjust our breathing together. It will help you."
"Inhale!"
"Exhale!"
"That's it, that's it. Let your breath sink to your stomach," Rhys nodded, watching them adjust their breathing as they ran.
"Stomach?" White asked, puzzled.
"Here," Rhys said, patting his lower abdomen with a smile. "Right here. Sink the air you breathe in down to here, and then exhale from here. No, no, White, don't let your whole body sink. Did you take your bones out?" Rhys grabbed White, who was about to collapse.
"But Parks, doesn't the air you breathe in go into your damn lungs? How can it sink to stomach? Are you sure you know basic human anatomy?" Hoobler chuckled, despite his exhaustion.
"Use your mind, Hoobler. Imagine that's where your lungs are," Rhys said. "Forget the damn textbooks. If you want to get Captain Sobel off your back, then do as I say. Don't ask so many questions, just do it."
The three of them continued running up the mountain.
"Whoa, it's actually working!" White exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
Hoobler nodded, but he was too tired to speak. He had reached his absolute limit, even after adjusting his breathing and trying to sink it to his stomach. But no matter what, he gritted his teeth and pushed through.
When they got back to camp, Hoobler was completely spent. As soon as Sobel dismissed him, he couldn't stand any longer and collapsed onto the grass.
"Hoobler, use the method I told you to adjust your breathing. It will help you recover faster," Rhys said, sitting down next to him. White walked over with a grin and sat down too.
"Where did you learn all this? I don't feel as tired as I used to," White said. "I mean, the way I felt during the run."
"Everyone has different experiences. It's nothing to be surprised about. It's just a way to self-regulate your physical energy, that's all," Rhys said, trying to be as low-key as possible.
"But it's a hell of a lot better than those damn Army training regulations," Hoobler said after resting for a bit. He felt much better. He had never felt himself recover so quickly before. It felt magical, especially after taking off the sandbags that had felt like stones during the run. He felt light and refreshed, like he had just taken a sauna.
"That's the beauty of it. Once you get used to the sandbags, you'll get addicted," Rhys smiled.
"You mean like the feeling of shooting your load?" White asked, looking at Hoobler. "He does look like he just finished, especially if he had a cigarette."
The three of them roared with laughter.
"Hey, Parks, why don't you show this method to the other brothers in Easy? Maybe we'd all perform even better," Hoobler said, looking at Rhys. "I'm serious. Don't you want to?"
Rhys smiled. "Do you think Captain Sobel would tolerate a training method that's not in the Army regulations?"
"You could talk to Lieutenant Winters about it first," White chimed in.
"Lieutenant Winters isn't the company commander, Hoobler," Rhys said. He looked at Hoobler. "Do you know why I'm teaching you this? Besides helping you, there's another reason. I want Sobel, and Winters, and the rest of the brothers in Easy to see your progress. Only when they see that it's effective will I offer to help them. If they're willing, of course."
Hoobler and White exchanged a knowing smile.
***
In just one short month, Hoobler and White's physical fitness had improved significantly. This astonished the brothers of Easy Company, as well as Lieutenant Winters and Captain Sobel. Hoobler was not only able to keep up with the company now, but he was also showing impressive results in a few exercises. For just one month of change, it was a remarkable improvement. And White's performance was now considered "good" within the company.
The men of Easy all knew that for the past month, Rhys had been training these two with a special method. It was clearly having a great effect. God only knew if they would become the top soldiers in the company after a few more months of it.
So, more and more of the men wanted to talk to Rhys about his training methods.
"You shouldn't keep it a secret," Buck Compton said, having sought Rhys out. Luz was with him. "Look at our Hoobler and White. You've turned them into the Flash."
"Don't say that, Buck. It's not that I want to keep it a secret, but Sobel would throw me out of Easy Company. I don't want that," Rhys said, amused by Buck's complaining tone. "Or are you just looking for a way to beat me on the training field? If that's the case, I won't teach you. It would be a disadvantage for me."
Buck realized his tone had been a bit off and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
"I know, Buck," Rhys said, clapping him on the shoulder to show there were no hard feelings. "I don't know what the brothers want, and more importantly, what would Sobel think if we did this?"
Luz swore. "Forget the Captain! Parks, we all know you're a good man. I bet your methods could make me stronger, and they'd probably help me perform better in… other areas, too."
"Other areas?" Buck and Rhys looked at Luz in unison.
Luz looked at them, surprised. "Yeah. When I was sixteen, I used to have these dreams. Don't tell me you guys never wished to the moon at night to make your dick bigger?"
Rhys and Buck were stunned into silence. Then they both shook their heads. "Sorry, Luz, can't say we've ever made that particular wish."
"Oh, don't lie! You definitely have!" Luz suddenly felt overwhelmed.
"No," Buck and Rhys said, shaking their heads firmly. They both took a step back, as if they were afraid of catching something from him.
"Come on, guys, would it kill you to admit it? You should be honest and upfront, like me!" Luz was still trying to argue his case, but Rhys and Buck couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
"I love you, Luz," Buck said, still laughing.
Rhys nodded in agreement, his face perfectly serious. "Me too."
"Oh, God," Luz slapped his forehead in frustration.