I have a swim meet coming up this weekend Nov 1, Nov 2. I haven't raced in almost 6 years. I have, however, been swimming all the time. The meet restricts each competitor to only two events. Each event is a timed final. I guess they do this to save time. I have entered the 50 m and 100 m free. The last time I raced these events I went 26.15 and 59.01 respectively. Back then, however, I did more training than I am doing now.
Recently, I have been swimming 4 times a week, averaging about 1500 m to 2300 m per session. In the mornings I follow a home fitness program which involves some very vigorous cardio, dumbbell work, body weight workouts, etc. It can be really exhausting and leave my muscles sore for a couple of days afterwards.
My questions are:
should I drop the home exercise program in this final week before the meet?
how much swimming should I be doing and what should I be concentrating on in the pool?
what should I be eating?
and probably the biggest question of all,
how do I warm up on the day of the meet?
No dry land 7-10 days before the meet, you may do some stretching but not weight lifting.
Eat as usual, more slow carbohydrates, drink enough water.
Do sprints mixed with a lot of easy recovery swimming. Don't do too many sprints otherwise you build much lactate in your muscles.
For warm up it's individual - this article may help - swim.isport.com/.../how-to-warm-up-for-swimming
No dry land 7-10 days before the meet, you may do some stretching but not weight lifting.
Eat as usual, more slow carbohydrates, drink enough water.
Do sprints mixed with a lot of easy recovery swimming. Don't do too many sprints otherwise you build much lactate in your muscles.
For warm up it's individual - this article may help - swim.isport.com/.../how-to-warm-up-for-swimming