It's not going to be as interesting as Ande's but I realized when I was powerlifting 10 years ago that this is the best way for me to track and evaluate my progress so here it is.
Paul,
A longer-term point of view would be to ask yourself "Paul, how long do you plan on doing this swim thing?" If you're looking to do this for the long haul, my POV is to keep doing what you're doing this year, shave and taper for nationals and see what happens. Its been a LONG time since you've done that, and you have no idea how that will affect your performance. My guess is that you'll shock yourself with some really fast swims. Remember, you've only been at this for what, 6 months? If you're in this for the long haul, what happens this year is really a moot point. It'll be the bar by which all other bars will be set.
Ah, the whole 'walk before you run' trick. Yeah, I know. And I should be more willing to take it slow. This is almost a mirror image of my early powerlifting, huge increases in strength happened in the first several months and then success came slower.
I see your point. And I guess I'm being just a little too eager here. Yeah, this is a rest of my life thing not a gonna quit in 4 months thing so I need to enjoy the journey instead of just rushing head long. It's just that in a little over 4 months to be swimming these times, all I seem to be able to focus on is that it doesn't seem to be fast enough when I look at others. But I need to just realize that they are not me and I am not they.
As for tapering? Wuz thet? I hear folks talk about it and I understand the concept of tapering but I'm not sure how to do it.
Paul,
A longer-term point of view would be to ask yourself "Paul, how long do you plan on doing this swim thing?" If you're looking to do this for the long haul, my POV is to keep doing what you're doing this year, shave and taper for nationals and see what happens. Its been a LONG time since you've done that, and you have no idea how that will affect your performance. My guess is that you'll shock yourself with some really fast swims. Remember, you've only been at this for what, 6 months? If you're in this for the long haul, what happens this year is really a moot point. It'll be the bar by which all other bars will be set.
Ah, the whole 'walk before you run' trick. Yeah, I know. And I should be more willing to take it slow. This is almost a mirror image of my early powerlifting, huge increases in strength happened in the first several months and then success came slower.
I see your point. And I guess I'm being just a little too eager here. Yeah, this is a rest of my life thing not a gonna quit in 4 months thing so I need to enjoy the journey instead of just rushing head long. It's just that in a little over 4 months to be swimming these times, all I seem to be able to focus on is that it doesn't seem to be fast enough when I look at others. But I need to just realize that they are not me and I am not they.
As for tapering? Wuz thet? I hear folks talk about it and I understand the concept of tapering but I'm not sure how to do it.
