Fort, this is a great point and one that I should be more detailed in my posts when discussing. It doesn't have to be nationals, it can be a regional or a small local meet...the more important point is that its good to cycle your training. How often do you see fitness swimmers getting in the pool and swimming their 40 laps for example? Or masters swimmers who train hard year around but never vary their routine by either resting or taking 2 one week breaks a year? Periodization will improve anyones overall fitness level regardless of what if any actual event they want to train for.
I do what you are suggesting, but since my meet attendance is limited, I always find myself wondering how to get times in all the courses. To even attempt to get more than a few times, I have to swim pretty fast year round whenever a meet I can attend arises. I'm already gnashing my teeth that the LC season is so short and I can only go to one meet. Plus, the "old fashioned taper" is difficult to achieve when you are besieged with kid stuff. You just can't sit on your butt and rest up.
OK, so before Hulk squeals on me, I'll just say that you lifters are probably right. I'm "man" enough to admit when I'm wrong. I just dropped significant time for PBs today at my meet with only 4-5 weeks lifting, a few days rest and no caffeine IV or long nails. lol It ain't all the suit. Definitely strength gains. Hulk watched my 100 back and said my turnover was slower, but that I was more powerful. So, it's clear that more strength is a key path to improvement for me. We'll see if I can overcome my dislike of it.
Fort, this is a great point and one that I should be more detailed in my posts when discussing. It doesn't have to be nationals, it can be a regional or a small local meet...the more important point is that its good to cycle your training. How often do you see fitness swimmers getting in the pool and swimming their 40 laps for example? Or masters swimmers who train hard year around but never vary their routine by either resting or taking 2 one week breaks a year? Periodization will improve anyones overall fitness level regardless of what if any actual event they want to train for.
I do what you are suggesting, but since my meet attendance is limited, I always find myself wondering how to get times in all the courses. To even attempt to get more than a few times, I have to swim pretty fast year round whenever a meet I can attend arises. I'm already gnashing my teeth that the LC season is so short and I can only go to one meet. Plus, the "old fashioned taper" is difficult to achieve when you are besieged with kid stuff. You just can't sit on your butt and rest up.
OK, so before Hulk squeals on me, I'll just say that you lifters are probably right. I'm "man" enough to admit when I'm wrong. I just dropped significant time for PBs today at my meet with only 4-5 weeks lifting, a few days rest and no caffeine IV or long nails. lol It ain't all the suit. Definitely strength gains. Hulk watched my 100 back and said my turnover was slower, but that I was more powerful. So, it's clear that more strength is a key path to improvement for me. We'll see if I can overcome my dislike of it.
