As I've mentioned ad naseum i've been training since January for a meet this coming Sunday. I'm only doing 50y events at this time. My question is over the last week I have lowered the total yardage I have done each night but have added more speed type work and 25/50y sprints. 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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
