To those who swim on a team and are left in despair when the season is over, do you still swim on your own during the off-season? If yes, what kind of sets do you swim?
Or do you just do nothing for one and a half months? How does this affect one's swimming performance?
No off-season here. We train 12 months a year. Some take a break for a week or so between SCY and LCM season or a week or two between the end of the LCM season and SCM season.
Unlike many Europeans, we do not take the month of August off....we are all in too much of a rush to do that.
Lay down the endurance base one day and drill work alternate days. Let my shoulder heal without sprint work. Taekwondo at night. Miss the comraderie of the group and count the days down until September.
Or do you just do nothing for one and a half months? How does this affect one's swimming performance?
If I do no swimming for 6 weeks, it will take me about that long to get back to where I was previously.
Our masters team will take something like 3 weeks off at the end of summer (we only have one coach, he needs a break). I will lift and bike during that time and maybe get in the pool a few times a week.
If your team is off for 6 weeks or so, you can stay in pretty reasonable shape by cross-training and just getting wet 2-3 times a week; easy swimming is enough. Do more if you want to; I agree with a previous poster, long endurance work might be good.
I usually take one week off and then get back to it. I with a week of just stroke work and then increase the yardage and its back to normal :). I do have 2-3 weeks in the year that I take off for vacation so I guess that makes up for my lack of break. I love it too much to take a break too long and the one week really lets me rest and refocus.
I moved into "off-season" after spring nationals. I've cut back to 3-4 days a week, limited wieght training, and added some cross-training (running, cycling). I've lost some of my endurance over this time, but I'm looking to use Aug to start ramping back up for SCM in the fall.
Unlike many Europeans, we do not take the month of August off....we are all in too much of a rush to do that.
Personally, I'm very much willing to give the Euro plan a try.
About a week out of the pool is the most I ever take. I agree with Chris, it just takes too long to get back if you're out for an extended period. That doesn't mean there aren't times where I go into maintenance mode. Usually this is after a taper meet. I'll take a few days off and then swim for an hour or so 2-3 times per week.
The team I'm currently swimming with takes August off, however I've got an open water swim in September, so I'll need to train on my own. That means when I'm ready for a break the team will be back in the water going hot and heavy. There goes my off season, I guess!
What is this, "off season," you speak of?
Unless I'm sick, injured, or on vacation, I workout. Sure it can and does vary based on meets, how I'm feeling, or other events. Since I began swimming with masters teams in 1997, the longest I took off was a month once, and that was due to a sprained ankle.
What is this, "off season," you speak of?
Unless I'm sick, injured, or on vacation, I workout.
Same here, except for the "vacation" part. I'm bringing my suit, cap and goggles with me on my European river cruise, after Nationals. If I can't get to a pool during free time at our stops, I plan on watching the scenery go by out on the upper deck, while using my stretch cords, doing shoulder stability exercises and push ups. Otherwise, there is a small gym on board, so there is always the treadmill and bike I can use.
I miss that endorphin rush when I miss workouts, and always feel so much better afterwards, so I'll take a workout over :coffee: any day! :D
I usually workout while on vacation too, but not quite as often and usually not with the same intensity. On a 2-week vacation in London, I'll usually get in about 4 team swims (-v-) 10+ in that normal period.
If you'll be anywhere near Munich, I highly recommend swimming in the Olympic pool there.
If you take a look at my blog, you'll see my breaks are few.
Same here, except for the "vacation" part. I'm bringing my suit, cap and goggles with me on my European river cruise, after Nationals. If I can't get to a pool during free time at our stops, I plan on watching the scenery go by out on the upper deck, while using my stretch cords, doing shoulder stability exercises and push ups. Otherwise, there is a small gym on board, so there is always the treadmill and bike I can use.
I miss that endorphin rush when I miss workouts, and always feel so much better afterwards, so I'll take a workout over :coffee: any day! :D
