:doh: When will I ever learn to not overdo it?
My orthopedic doc sent me for PT (dry needling) for the mess that is my neck and it has worked amazingly well; my neck is doing great! It worked so well, my primary doc referred me for dry needling of the trigger points in my leg and hip, since the PT exercises alone weren't helping. After one treatment (so far), it is doing much better. That's the good news...
I was feeling so good, even after my open water 3K and 1K races on July 13th, that I put in a big week of yardage, starting the day after the races. I had taken a day off the day before my races and felt great the day after, so why not? Big mistake. Between training too much fly this past week and over-stretching my rotators while doing my PT exercises, I ended up with shoulders too sore to swim anything other than a weak breaststroke.
After 1,100 yards on Thursday, my shoulders were feeling horrible, so I got out of the pool. I swam nothing but breaststroke on Friday and took Saturday off. Sunday and Monday I swam only kick sets (with and without fins), but could only put in 1,800 yards before knowing it was time to give my legs a rest.
Ice and Zipsor (prescription anti-inflammatory) have been my routine until my next PT appointment on Tuesday. But my taper is blown, I don't know when swimming full stroke will be possible, and my first event at Nationals is on August 8. :afraid:
Now what? Any suggestions?
I am so sorry about your shoulders(as you know I have my own shoulder issues.)Get better soon.
The general rule for taper is "less is better".Geek is right,if you don't think you blew your taper you didn't do it right.It is also important when tapering to know that any sniffle or scratchy throat is pneumonia or maybe even plague.Also you must feel loggy the second week of taper and be sure you will never feel good again.Additional it really helps a taper to stay up all night worrying that you aren't getting enough sleep.
I am sure these tips will get you through the taper process.
The time not swimming this close to Nationals will do you a world of good because you need rest. In 2008 I took over a week off a month before LC Nationals to go watch the Trials. I had good intentions to swim while in Omaha but only made it to the pool once. After returning home I trained hard for about a week and a half then tapered, and swam some times that were (and still are) my best ever.
Listen to your body. Don't sweat it. If you make it to the Nationals you will be nicely rested. If you're a little below fitness, it isn't the end of the world. If you can't swim, perhaps you'll learn not to overdo it....
Oh, I'll make it to Nationals, even if I have to crawl there. Flight tickets are purchased, hotel and rental car is booked, and I'm goin' home to California! :bliss:
The article on "Invisible Training" (see the top article on the home page) could not have come at a better time. When I got to the part about "self-myofascial release", I Googled it and found a great set of exercises to do with the foam roller I still have from my thoracic outlet syndrome PT. Check this out: media.wix.com/.../ee042d_72bedf559140977bf73b3c951dbf9b76.pdf
I did all of the exercises before I hopped in the pool, this morning, and it made a big difference. I have my range of motion back in my rotator cuffs, but I took it VERY easy on freestyle; just a 25 here and there for a total of 200 yards. I was also able to swim easy breaststroke , so I put in a total of a few hundred yards. All the rest of my yardage was kick sets.
The foam roller is my new best friend! :banana:
As for learning to not overdo it, that has proven to be the hardest lesson to learn in my three years of USMS. :dunno:
Thanks, Rob; your advice is well taken and absolutely correct! :D
So true. And if you want to get in the pool, just do legs for a while. Give the shoulders a good rest now and they will be much better for Nationals.
That's what I have been doing- and, trying not to overdo it with the legs!
Part of taper is thinking you blew your taper. Therefore, you have not blown your taper. If you think you have hit your taper perfectly, you have blown your taper. Taper defies logic.
:rolleyes: Yeah, I hear ya! Thanks, Geek!
Zen Aquageek doth speak
Words of wisdom, Confucius
Taper is never right
:D Hey, don't forget I owe you :chug: :chug:
I am so sorry about your shoulders(as you know I have my own shoulder issues.)Get better soon.
The general rule for taper is "less is better".Geek is right,if you don't think you blew your taper you didn't do it right.It is also important when tapering to know that any sniffle or scratchy throat is pneumonia or maybe even plague.Also you must feel loggy the second week of taper and be sure you will never feel good again.Additional it really helps a taper to stay up all night worrying that you aren't getting enough sleep.
I am sure these tips will get you through the taper process.
:lmao: Thanks, King Frog! I especially had to laugh at the last tip. Did you notice the time of my post? Last night was my first rotten night of sleep after an unusually decent streak of good sleeping. I woke up at 2 AM and was wide awake until I finally went back to bed at 5 AM. The good news was that I read that article on Invisible Training which led me to researching self-myofascial release. So, at least there was a happy ending!
Hey, K.F.? I'm going to miss you and Seal Girl (A.K.A. Mrs. Frog) at Nats. It just won't be the same without you two there. :sad:
The time not swimming this close to Nationals will do you a world of good because you need rest. In 2008 I took over a week off a month before LC Nationals to go watch the Trials. I had good intentions to swim while in Omaha but only made it to the pool once. After returning home I trained hard for about a week and a half then tapered, and swam some times that were (and still are) my best ever.
That's inspiring, 'raat! I hope the same happens for me! But, at this point, I'm not looking for any best times. I'm just looking for my shoulders to survive the 400 IM and 200 Fly without giving out on me!
My advice is that anything you feel you "need" to do in the pool right now is subordinate to what you need to do to get healthy.
Wise words, knelson! Ice is sitting on my shoulders as I type...
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to post your advice; all good stuff! I appreciate your support!!
if you need a shoulder i seem to have 1 can give you.
just 1, the other is kinda sorta looking like a junk heap.
both have logged 1000s of miles at MVN.
then again you may not even want the "good" one.
tapers go up and down and side to side. heck sometimes the taper is done on a plane as you cross
the atlantic or in the adiriatic because smoking polo players are still in the competition pool.
you will be just fine!
Listen to your body. Don't sweat it. If you make it to the Nationals you will be nicely rested. If you're a little below fitness, it isn't the end of the world. If you can't swim, perhaps you'll learn not to overdo it....
So true. And if you want to get in the pool, just do legs for a while. Give the shoulders a good rest now and they will be much better for Nationals.
Part of taper is thinking you blew your taper. Therefore, you have not blown your taper. If you think you have hit your taper perfectly, you have blown your taper. Taper defies logic.
Listen to your body. Don't sweat it. If you make it to the Nationals you will be nicely rested. If you're a little below fitness, it isn't the end of the world. If you can't swim, perhaps you'll learn not to overdo it....
Part of taper is thinking you blew your taper. Therefore, you have not blown your taper. If you think you have hit your taper perfectly, you have blown your taper. Taper defies logic.
Zen Aquageek doth speak
Words of wisdom, Confucius
Taper is never right
The foam roller is my new best friend! :banana:
You and me both, swim sister!!:groovy: I picked one up about a year ago, and it has served my old shoulders and hips (not to mention just about every part I can reach with it) well.
Can't wait to see you at Nats!
