Hello Everyone,
Here is some background information before I ask my question:
I have been training hard since August. I am trying out a nine (9) month training plan that end with Spring (2016) Nationals. I planned to fully taper and shave for a college invitational (I swim club in college) in mid-November (14th), then get right back into basic training (instead of my usual week break between seasons to keep my feel for the water). After approximately two weeks of basic training (basic endurance, drills, etc.), I get into endurance training.
I am currently in the endurance phase of my training and experience minor injuries from time to time. When the pain is too much, I back off and "nurse" (ice, ice baths, ibuprofen, etc.) my body back to health, yet continue my workouts with low attention on the injured area. The point of not taking a break after my complete taper was so that I wouldn't subject my body to the "starting from scratch" phase we all get after a break. I wanted to swim fast for that invite (which I did with all best times), then continue my endurance so that my body would "think" it was all one big season, instead of two smaller ones, and therefore swim even FASTER at Nationals. Does that make sense?
I would love any feedback anyone has to contribute. As I mentioned, this is the first time I've done a training cycle (along with a taper in the middle) longer than four months at a time; experience is not on my side.
Alex M.
