a week ago my coach started laying back on the intensity in our sets, and practice gradually became noticeably easier, yet there were still some hard sprints with plenty of rest and warm down. I even started passing lanemates that I usually struggle to keep up with. I felt really good in the water too. Yesterday we had a different coach subbing with us who was not aware that we were in the middle of a long rest/taper. His sets were quite easy, but I don't think I got enough warmup, and I also skipped out on lunch that day. However, I felt OH SO sluggish in the water, and struggled to keep up. I didn't feel as smooth or fast in the water as I had the previous days. I'm worried that I could have blown my taper! I won't have practice for three days since my coach is out of town, and I don't want to mess anything up. Any thoughts on my situation? Or am I simply overreacting...
The only consistency during taper is inconsistency. You might feel great one day and terrible the next. In other words, don't sweat it. You'll be fine!
First week of taper I typically begin feeling stronger. Then the second week is almost never good. I feel loggy and every ache is magnified. The third week it gets better again. Don't despair,you'll do fine.:cheerleader:
One day is not going to make or break you. Typically when I have tapered I get a few days where everything just feels off. That is ok. Don't worry you'll do fine.
What Donna said!
I have more running than swimming background, but I know how anxious those last couple weeks before a big race can be and that feeling, "oh no, what if I blew this thing because of doing x!" Lots of it is the stress that the big day is getting closer and you want everything to go perfectly. And so even the smallest glitch can feel like a disaster. That's when we need to remember that the training already done is worth a lot, and as Donna said, a single day's practice won't make or break what you've already accomplished.
Have a great race! You'll be ready!! :applaud: :applaud: :cheerleader:
Since you're not going to be in the meet for which the coach is having your team taper, why don't you talk w/ him and maybe he can suggest some adjustments in your workout that will maximize your chances for success in your meet? Sounds as if some flexibility is needed here, and maybe for the coach the other meet is important, but the one you're in matters to you and it seems as if it would be worth communicating with him about your concerns.
Former Member
thanks for the encouraging words.
after 3 days out of the water, i felt a little uneasy and bloated today. i suppose i swam alright though.
but i just realized that my coach doesn't even care about the upcoming meet this saturday! his main focus is the meet AFTER my meet, which is much more important, except that i'm not attending it.
so basically, this is my schedule
-almost a whole season of hard work, with little taper since i never had a chance to make the cuts for meets worth tapering for.
-3 weeks of even more intense work with doubles
-1.5 week of laying back where i feel AWESOME.
-3 days without swim practice
-1 day where I feel slightly uneasy
-tomorrow off
-wednesday, thursday, friday= hard work to prepare for NEXT WEEK'S long taper.
so i'll taper next week for ABSOLUTELY nothing.
yet i have a meet THIS saturday! will i jeopardize my chances of swimming fast this weekend?
You've got to look out for number one. Don't feel bad about modifying your workouts this week to fit your taper. You can easily do this without affecting everyone else in your lane. Cut out a couple repeats, get out early, etc. With less than a week now until your meet I'd suggest you really cut back.
Treat yourself to a massage! They are great during these final weeks before the big meet.
Former Member
ehh. it's kinda hard to ask my coach to alter the sets just for me. i know as a fact that he's pretty inflexible... maybe it would help if i laid back on the amount of effort i put into swimming for the next few days? my coach usually focuses on the needs of the majority of the group, not the minority so it would be pretty hard. i'm stuck...
I was under the impression that, especially near the end of a taper, you need to focus on really good quality swims in workout, not distance. In fact we usually do a meet warm up and however many sprints we want in the last few days leading up to the meet.
I agree with Kirk, look out for #1. Any coach or swimmer HAS to recognize that proper preparation for any meet (no matter when it is) should take priority (for that swimmer). Talk to the coach and tell him that you will not be doing the entire workout, maybe move to another less crowded lane, definitely tell your lanemates what you're doing. After practice is over, ask if you can do some timed sprints.
Good luck :)
