I despise tapering so much, it sometimes makes me NOT want to compete anymore. I feel moody, tired, and depressed and worried about my races because I'm so used to being very active on a daily basis. I remember reading that Laura Val doesn't worry about a taper but the article had no details. Is there anyone else who has been able to perform really well without cutting way back on yardage? I would be interested in hearing what you do.
I do different workouts on different days - IM, lactate, middle distance, sprint. I do know I recover most slowly from sprint workouts...
I usually do 2600-3300 4 or 5 days a week and a lot of cross training. My preference would be to swim at least 1800 every day during "taper." That is about the minimum yardage for me to feel normal.
Some random thoughts, hopefully something will help:
-- Pure yardage is not always a reliable metric, I can see a taper that would consist of nearly the same amount of yardage that you normally do but that is more restful or has a different focus. (For example, I'll often do 3000 or more during one day of a meet...though a lot of that is easy swimming.)
-- You didn't mention what you do with your cross-training during taper. Since that appears to be a good part of your normal exercise routine, you obviously need a taper plan for that too. Since the goal is to swim fast, I would venture to say that a good part of your taper may even be cutting back on and eventually eliminating your cross-training.
-- If sprinting is what taxes you the most, you definitely need to cut back on it. Personally, I wouldn't do lactate work the week before your meet.
Good luck.
I do different workouts on different days - IM, lactate, middle distance, sprint. I do know I recover most slowly from sprint workouts...
I usually do 2600-3300 4 or 5 days a week and a lot of cross training. My preference would be to swim at least 1800 every day during "taper." That is about the minimum yardage for me to feel normal.
Some random thoughts, hopefully something will help:
-- Pure yardage is not always a reliable metric, I can see a taper that would consist of nearly the same amount of yardage that you normally do but that is more restful or has a different focus. (For example, I'll often do 3000 or more during one day of a meet...though a lot of that is easy swimming.)
-- You didn't mention what you do with your cross-training during taper. Since that appears to be a good part of your normal exercise routine, you obviously need a taper plan for that too. Since the goal is to swim fast, I would venture to say that a good part of your taper may even be cutting back on and eventually eliminating your cross-training.
-- If sprinting is what taxes you the most, you definitely need to cut back on it. Personally, I wouldn't do lactate work the week before your meet.
Good luck.
