I searched for this subject in prior threads, but couldn't find specific answers. With Nationals just a few weeks away, I'm hoping responses posted here will be helpful for others as well. My question is, when do you stop lifting as part of your taper? Way back in college, I used to stop weights a full three weeks before big meets (competed in sprint free/fly). I'm still only competing in spring free and fly. I don't know if I should -
keep lifting longer because yardage is way down compared to college
stop lifting sooner because my 40-year-old body takes longer to recover
or somewhere in the middleI certainly would appreciate it if folks would respond with your age-group, best events, and when you taper off weights. And if you competed in your youth/college, how does your current taper compare to then?
Thanks!
I am a 18-25 group member, so I am all that far removed from my age-group/club swimming experiences. I am a mid-distance freestyle swimmer (200, 500 y) that occasionally does the spints (50,100 y).
When it comes to weights, my body tends to be prone to delayed muscle soreness - I also recover rather slowly compared to what I percieve as normal. At no point in my lifting experience did I ever do more than 2-3 days per week, and no more than 45 minutes of lifting. For the major meets I went to back then (Sectionals, Zones, etc) I would cut out lifting 3-4 weeks ahead of major competition.
Obviously I think it depends on the person, but I usually like to only lift "early season" and then use paddles/pulling to build upper body stength once I am in competition.
I am a 18-25 group member, so I am all that far removed from my age-group/club swimming experiences. I am a mid-distance freestyle swimmer (200, 500 y) that occasionally does the spints (50,100 y).
When it comes to weights, my body tends to be prone to delayed muscle soreness - I also recover rather slowly compared to what I percieve as normal. At no point in my lifting experience did I ever do more than 2-3 days per week, and no more than 45 minutes of lifting. For the major meets I went to back then (Sectionals, Zones, etc) I would cut out lifting 3-4 weeks ahead of major competition.
Obviously I think it depends on the person, but I usually like to only lift "early season" and then use paddles/pulling to build upper body stength once I am in competition.
