I hate tapering!

Should we really taper if we swim less than 4000m a day. I don't think so. There are very few that workout more than 4000m. Now if we do 10,000m a day I may understand that we could Taper.

If you are are doing less than 4000m you are barely in condition. Would you consinder it tapering by taking two days before a race and just swimming a few easy lengths and a few sprints, just to keep loose. That is all I ever did but I was averaging less than a 1000 m a day until I became a marathon swimmer.

Well, I feel like I am in a taper because when I was in Roatan, I was swimming 6 days a week; averaging 4 to 7 miles on all those swims. Now that I am back in the DFW area, I swim in a lake 2 nights a week and only about 1,000 yds due to time constraints (gets dark). But Sundays I do 4 miles plus with a kayaker. The indoor pools here are over 90 degrees so those are off-limits. So, not swimming but 3 times a week is AWFUL! And, I probably am tapering and I certainly DO NOT LIKE IT.

Well, I feel like I am in a taper because when I was in Roatan, I was swimming 6 days a week; averaging 4 to 7 miles on all those swims. Now that I am back in the DFW area, I swim in a lake 2 nights a week and only about 1,000 yds due to time constraints (gets dark). But Sundays I do 4 miles plus with a kayaker. The indoor pools here are over 90 degrees so those are off-limits. So, not swimming but 3 times a week is AWFUL! And, I probably am tapering and I certainly DO NOT LIKE IT. I can't wait to get to Mexico the pool is always 90+ the pool is only 20 yards long but I swim lots of 100s. I will be adding flip turns now that my knees are starting to work.

I resemble that remark! :mooning: :thhbbb: Me too Me too!! So glad I have been keeping up with this forum - today I did my final swim before my OW event on Saturday, and it was AWFUL! I was SOOOO SLOW and it felt bad. Very bonky. But I am just going to listen to all the good advice I have been getting about feeling lousy at the end of your taper and hope that Saturday goes well! If not, I'm sure you will hear me griping all the way from Ptown... :bitching:

A 9-10 day taper at the masters level? Swimming between 10-12K per week means that I rest completely one day and do very light exercises on the two days before the meet just to keep muscle enzymes up. 9-10 day measn that I might lose 50% of my fitness!

Just don't be doing this :bitching: to the wife while you're going crazy! I train 6 days a week with double workout. I've taken off completely! I swam a little yesterday and will spin a couple of miles today. It driving me nuts!:sad: Fort: Too late, but at work. I should go apologize.:bow:

I heard a lecture by *** Costill in which he said his studies showed a taper benefits you even if you are swimming 1500 yd 3X per wk. I need a 3 week taper for optimum speed. I have read men need a longer taper than women and that sprinters and breaststrokers need a longer taper than distance swimmers.

Well, I've started another one. I'm already dreading it. I still hate to taper, even though it seemed to work decently well last August. I'm beat up from a lot of speedwork, so I'm going to cut back more this time and stay >2000 with easy swimming, drills and only a few sprints. I should be climbing the walls soon ... or rolling down the hallway from the weight gain. :lmao:

A 9-10 day taper at the masters level? Swimming between 10-12K per week means that I rest completely one day and do very light exercises on the two days before the meet just to keep muscle enzymes up. 9-10 day measn that I might lose 50% of my fitness! MAC....sorry but that is simply not the way it works for most when you have trained 4-6 months for ameet you don't lose it by resting. Age becomes an incredible factor for us masters and for those of us who do train at the volume you mention a true taper is actually 3 weeks. No "taper" means different things to different people but in general it would be no reduction in volume 3 weeks out but shifting to higher quality swims with more rest...for some of us (me) I stop weights here as well, two weeks out again mileage is about the same but even longer rest intervals with lots of drill work, turn work, light pulling, etc. one week out its usually get in until I feel good, swim a couple of 200 pace 50's, some variable speed 25's and a longer warm down....this works for me swimming anything up to the 500. Fort...please buy your husband a plane ticket and send him out to hang with the guys till the taper is over!