Tapering

RE: Tapering

mcnair — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:05:45 GMT

I like the concept of tapering,but in practice I get too "neurotic" to enjoy it.In regular season doing extra work,lifting and carrying things,doing yard work,even having the "sniffles",are no big deal.During taper anything that could strain the muscles or cause an illness are a constant threat. I finally refused to shovel snow on Friday before last Sunday's event... I was being neurotic and over protective of the shoulder, and maybe just a little bit sick of shoveling anyway, but I totally know where you're coming from.

RE: Tapering

mcnair — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:49:07 GMT

LOL -- my wife has to help with my back. She hates it and I'm not supposed to tell anyone. ;-) Your secret is safe with us... now where is that forward button?

RE: Tapering

Allen Stark — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:53:10 GMT

RE: Tapering

aztimm — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:03:02 GMT

What's frustrating about a taper? I love tapering! I love working out and the high it gives me after. Tapering doesn't do that to me. And it reminds me too much of being sick or injured, when I can't work out.

RE: Tapering

knelson — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:02:32 GMT

Definitely not worth it to me to deal with time and frustration of shaving and tapering. What's frustrating about a taper? I love tapering!

RE: Tapering

aztimm — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:26:47 GMT

I swam my best times ever after I got frustrated and blew a taper. After diligently trying to follow a taper program, I said, "screw it," and went back to usual, or even more. Swam a full workout Friday morning, ran and lifted Friday night, and ran 14+ miles early Sunday morning before showing up at the meet. I only got in about a 200 yard warmup before my first event. I've only done a couple of full-on tapers, and only shaved once, and results after those were mixed. Definitely not worth it to me to deal with time and frustration of shaving and tapering. The coach of the team I swim with now typically tapers the whole team for specific meets, but these tapers are nothing like what I read of others doing. More like just cutting a little distance and adding in a little speedwork in the 3-5 days before a meet.

RE: Tapering

Former Member — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:05:57 GMT

I wasn't really p lanning on shaving just wondered what people thought about it. My wife is not on board with it at all!! I did get a new tighter suit that I plan to try out tonight. while not a full techinical it is a nicer one than the jammers I've worn for the last 6 weeks. Tried it on last night and I can tell its defniitely tighter and feels slicker/smoother.

RE: Tapering

sunruh — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:17:37 GMT

some of us resemble walking (swimming?) carpets. it takes me 3-4 hrs to shave (clipping 1st) and that is with help. my back alone is worth a good 0.25sec in a 50. and thats what i liked the 2nd most about my blue70 nero supersuit. (Honey, where is my supersuit? - the incredibles). not having to shave my whole body and the multitude of ingrowns that occur after. silver back gorilla - steve

RE: Tapering

Jimbosback — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:58:40 GMT

I assume you meant shaving.If it is a taper meet then shave.You will feel faster and swim faster.Hair definitely slows you down.Armpit hair can be a little uncomfortable growing back,but what if you missed your goal by .01 sec and didn't shave your armpit hair. Never put yourself in the position of thinking "if only".when it comes to big meet preparation. I have a lot of hair. For local meets, I trim close with an electric clipper. I only use a razor for nationals. I never blade underarms. As far as it growing back, it will appear thicker because the hair has not been subject to long periods of wear and tear. You might get itchy at first, too, like when growing a beard out, except all over. That is not fun the first couple times, but you should get used to it. If you are not very hairy to start, it's probably not worth it to shave for a small meet. To what Allen said, my senior year in HS, at states, I was seeded 20-something, 2 seconds out of the top 12. I didn't shave. I figured if I somehow advanced I'd shave for finals. I blew away my seed time and ended up 13th by .02, missing our school record by .2. So my advice would be if you want to be your absolute fastest, shave.

RE: Tapering

knelson — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:51:38 GMT

You've been training since January and you're already thinking about shaving for a meet? We've created a monster! My take is you've only been training since January. Seems a little premature to shave, but go for it if you want to. Shaving will make you faster. Do you also have a tech suit or at least a very tight, newish suit? If you don't then it definitely isn't worth shaving. You also mentioned in another thread that you will be swimming at your state meet in April. If this is the case there's not much point in shaving for this meet. The vast majority of swimmers just shave for a meet a couple times per year (their season ending taper meets).

RE: Tapering

Jimbosback — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:26:02 GMT

At least cyclists only have to shave their legs, and only from the knees down... Strange as it will seem to long-time high-level swimmers, I have never shaved for any meets/swims. I keep thinking it might be something I should try for a state meet or something, but I'd have to enlist my wife's help, and she'd just laugh at me. Skip LOL -- my wife has to help with my back. She hates it and I'm not supposed to tell anyone. ;-)

RE: Tapering

smontanaro — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:14:43 GMT

RE: Tapering

Allen Stark — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:23:43 GMT

What do u guys think about shaking legs arms? If u do arms do u do arm pits? And what happens when it grows back ?? I assume you meant shaving.If it is a taper meet then shave.You will feel faster and swim faster.Hair definitely slows you down.Armpit hair can be a little uncomfortable growing back,but what if you missed your goal by .01 sec and didn't shave your armpit hair. Never put yourself in the position of thinking "if only".when it comes to big meet preparation.

RE: Tapering

Former Member — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:08:50 GMT

What do u guys think about shaking legs arms? If u do arms do u do arm pits? And what happens when it grows back ??

RE: Tapering

rxleakem — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:02:54 GMT

Be careful if you use the treadmill the day before the meet. Don't want to risk injury.

RE: Tapering

rtodd — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:23:24 GMT

Your nervous system needs at least as much rest as your muscles. All out sprints within 2 or 3 days of a focus meet are probably counter productive. This is also true o f your meet warm up. Don't do more than 1 or 2 short breakouts, maybe 4 or 5 strokes. This is very true, the central nervous system needs time to recover. It is a large bodily system that consumes alot of energy and needs rest. I remember reading about this regarding track sprinting.

RE: Tapering

Former Member — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:19:15 GMT

My off night will be today as have my son's last basketball game of the season. Last night I did mostly 25y sprints in the 3 events I was going to do at about 85-90% effort and longer rest. Tomorrow I was going to spend working on starts (I have yet to do a full 50 w a block start) and turns (especially back turns). Friday was going to be similar to thursday with less effort. Saturday was going to be just a "stretch" out day... utnil I found out the pool is closed do to the district meet going on... ugh... so I might go into the gym and get on a treadmill for a few minutes warm up... stretch out etc. Thank you all for the replies! Do not do too many starts. More than a couple can roast your legs and torso for a few days after.

RE: Tapering

Former Member — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:15:56 GMT

RE: Tapering

Former Member — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 06:52:51 GMT

You've been training since January for a meet this coming Sunday. You're only doing 50s. If you have 5 days till your meet how would you plan out your workouts if you plan on hitting the pool 3 of those days? you don't need to do much, Consider this: mostly swim easy with perfect strokes, turns, push offs, streamlines, & break outs. Wed 1200 total, do 3 x (25 fast followed by 75 easy followed by 1 or 2 min rest ) Thu 1000 total, do 2 x (25 fast followed by 75 easy followed by 2 or 3 min rest) Fri OFF Sat 800 total all easy Sun MEET I think Ande is spot on with this one. I did almost the exact same type of taper the last two years when I was only swimming 2-3 days a week. It was good for a full 2.5 second drop in my 100free from season bests when adding the shave. Only thing I would add would be to drop kicking out altogether from thursday on.

RE: Tapering

Rich Abrahams — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:49:35 GMT

RE: Tapering

ande — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:38:24 GMT

if it were me i would NOT take friday off. just a warmup and 1 or 2 blast 25s and warmdown. and i would do the same saturday as well. I agree, I try to swim each day before big meets to keep the feel. But if he HAD to NOT swim on one of the days, I'd not swim on today, Thu or Fri Also you can swim fast even if you feel bad in the water and if you get slightly sick, before or during. A swimmer's taper is always based on the years of training the swimmer has done and the season of training/recent training the swimmer did before his taper began. Tapers are also based on What works for the swimmer. Which you'll figure out over the seasons, by trying different tapers, writing down each work out and times on fast practice swims during taper. I'm believe it's better to hit your taper sooner then maintain it as opposed to working harder longer closer to your big meet then hoping you hit your taper during the meet. Generally More muscular sprinter types need more rest and a longer taper, Thinner weaker distances types tend to do better when they keep up their yardage & conditioning closer to the meet then dip down a little when they are 1 or 2 weeks out. Men usually need more and longer tapers than women.

RE: Tapering

sunruh — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:28:54 GMT

if it were me i would NOT take friday off. just a warmup and 1 or 2 blast 25s and warmdown. and i would do the same saturday as well.

RE: Tapering

ande — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:21:57 GMT

RE: Tapering

Allen Stark — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:36:55 GMT

For 50s you want to be loose and no muscle soreness.Do your regular warmup.Do 3-4 25s sprints with 75 EZ after each.Then do at least 300 EZ cool down. Good luck.

RE: Tapering

rxleakem — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:57:41 GMT

I'd drop from 2400yds/day down to 1200, where the last day is basically a meet warmup with a few 25 sprints. For 50s your body needs to rest and recover. Swim fast and have fun!