Mini-taper

Yes, Donna- how does one taper for an 18 MILE swim? :dunno: :bow: :applaud: :drink:

Say hi to SpongeBob and Patrick for me if you get bored! However, if you really start seeing them, that's bad! You've either sank to the bottom or you're delusional... :p Best of luck to you (seriously) :agree:

Karen.....this is again a very individual thing but in general I've found that 2-3 days max works for me.....any more than that and I slip into that real crappy period that a full taper has. Stop weights, do a pre-meet warm up routine and then some technique focused speed work; 25 variables ((build up, build down, easy, fast), a few 50's pace (hypoxic), 25's from the middle of the pool for turn practice. As for starts....my thoughts have stayed the same....I practice them all season and never do any two weeks prior to a major meet (except for 1 or 2 at the meet to get comfortable with the blocks).....

Wow, Paul AND Rich! Thanks you guys. I agree that tapers are very individual. In my 26 years of swimming I just never figured it out! When I was in my teens I never really thought about it, I just did what I was told and it worked. I should'a paid attention! As a Masters swimmer, it seems to have been hit and miss. I know, for example, at a Natl in Santa Clara my first 3 days were bad, and then all of a sudden I did a time I was happy with. I figured I had hit my taper on that last day... At Ft. Lauderdale, two years ago, I "magically" popped off a 4 second drop in a 100. Then the rest of the meet proceeded back to crappy again. I don't know, it's weird. I'm just used to having at least 5 good swims at a Nationals, until the 21st century, and kids, came! I know I'm afraid to rest, because I do feel crappy (weak). Probably more psychological? I feel much better with a little fatigue. When I've tapered in the past, Pat would get mad at me, because I couldn't keep still! Our house would be immaculate, all the laundry done, etc. At meets I can't sit down! Do you know how many trips to the bathroom I make- not because I have to "go", it's because I can't stay still. At practice I hate long periods of rest between intervals (more than 10 seconds and I get antsy) and especially sets, because I get cold quickly. That belly fat doesn't help much in keeping me warm :thhbbb: Anyhow, I appreciate your thoughts. I'll talk to Kerry too. He seems to have this swimming thing down pretty good. ;)

Karen, my sentiments exactly. It's too bad Einstein is no longer with us so I could call him up on my cell phone. It may turn out to be a roll of the dice (but I hope not). Or, I just may be so accustomed to swimming 10 to 13 miles that it won't be a problem (let's hope)..:shakeshead: donna

Karen, my sentiments exactly. It's too bad Einstein is no longer with us so I could call him up on my cell phone. It may turn out to be a roll of the dice (but I hope not). Or, I just may be so accustomed to swimming 10 to 13 miles that it won't be a problem (let's hope)..:shakeshead: donna I dunno Donna. My gut tells me you train your butt off and the week before cut the yardage in half (or do enough to keep loose and not tax yourself) and eat appropriately...get them muskels full of glycogen for that swim...and of course, as I've mentioned before don't forget the Ursula Andress exit at the end ;)

Rich, I think it has to be about a 3 week taper moving downward from 14 miles to about 6 miles (can't lose that conditioning). And I have seen what people look like at the end of a marathon swim and I can tell you, no one will be seeing Ursula on that beach in Utila; it will be a person crawling to shore with short grey hair :rofl:. and then refusing to swim back to the boat; will be asking for an airplane with a medic. donna

Just as long as no one hollers 'False Start' as you are coming out of the water...

Karen, Our state meet is next weekend and I'll do a mini-taper as I'm planning on going to nationals 5 weeks later. I'll start adjusting tomorrow, normally my killer lift day, by dialing it way down to one set of ten reps with moderate weight and one set heavy (but not max) with a little speed swimming right after. Monday, long easy aerobic. Tues. is kick day but I won't build lactates. Wed. will be low stress uptempo speed, e.g. 32 X 25 on :45 with all odds easy free and evens fast but not all out mixing free, stroke and kick. Thurs. easy/moderate aerobics. Friday precompetition warm up and a moderate transition set like 10 X 75 free on 1:10 (meters) descending 3, 6 and 9 without building any lactates. My last lactate workout was yesterday (6 X 75 fly on 6:00). On a full taper my last lactate day will be at least 10 days out from competition. Hope this helps. Rich Paul, will you and Laura be at state?

Hi Karen, I love what others have said here; good tips and advice. I find it funny you can't stay still, shoot, anyplace I can find to lay down or sit down, I'm there!! Must be age speaking. For me, a mini-taper involves 2 to 3 days with tremendously reduced yardage, but an increase in shorter swims with intensity. No weight lifting the week prior to the mini-taper. And because we are all so different in this stuff, I always get off my feet as much as possible, but swim both sprints and ez stuff to stay "loose." Being in tune with one's body is how we figure this out and I've had lots of years experience with mini-tapers, half-tapers, full tapers, you get the picture. And I think resting and getting off your feet before the meet is very important for you are trying to conserve any and all energy so you will be very explosive. But just keep asking more folks so you can figure out what a mini-taper should feel like. It's all an experiment in how your body feels; or should I say a challenge. I'll be having a taper challenge next year, one that I have never done before so I will probably come here and ask for advice about a month before the long swim. donna