Hi I am looking for help. I want to know how masters swimmers plan out their Taper before competition. How long is it ? How much do you reduce the distance and intensity of your workouts ?
How effective has it been? Do you Taper at all?
I have found through my own swimming that the Taper for masters swimmers is not the same as for elite swimmers. I don't think that we need the same taper as we are not doing 50,000 + meters a week ! All of the research out there is written for elite swimmers. If anyone knows of an article dealing with taper for masters swimmers then please tell me.
I am thinking of writing a paper on this if I can get enough info. If you could say how you plan your Taper, what your weekly volumes are and the events you swim then I would be eternally thankfull.
I also swim more than the average Masters (almost 27 kilometers per week, which is almost 30,000 yards per week), looking for developing my swimming VO2Max the way age-group kids are doing it.
The mainstream idea in tapering is to cut the training about 50% with 10 days to go if you swim middle distance free like me.
In tapering, do lots of broken swims, to imprint the pace.
Also, do 25 meter or yards sprints.
With this taper, in the 2003 Short Course Nationals, I lost my aerobic for the 1000 free, but surprisingly I got around my fastest speed.
With a three day taper for a smaller meet, I went much faster in the 1000 free, and so-so in speed.
I don't know how to taper well, even by following the coach's advice.
I also swim more than the average Masters (almost 27 kilometers per week, which is almost 30,000 yards per week), looking for developing my swimming VO2Max the way age-group kids are doing it.
The mainstream idea in tapering is to cut the training about 50% with 10 days to go if you swim middle distance free like me.
In tapering, do lots of broken swims, to imprint the pace.
Also, do 25 meter or yards sprints.
With this taper, in the 2003 Short Course Nationals, I lost my aerobic for the 1000 free, but surprisingly I got around my fastest speed.
With a three day taper for a smaller meet, I went much faster in the 1000 free, and so-so in speed.
I don't know how to taper well, even by following the coach's advice.
