I enjoy working out, I love to swim, I like training for a specific meet - but I just hate tapering.
I hate not having the great feeling you get after a tough workout.
I don't like having to swim last in my lane when I usually lead and getting asked 20 times if you I want to go ahead.
I hate having to get out after 1/2 or 2/3 of the practice.
I don't want to worry about what and how much I eat, when I usually have to make sure I eat enough.
I dread hitting the taper low -- for me about 1 week into the taper and it can last up to 1 week -- your arms feel tired and sore when you know you have done nothing to cause this.
I don't like the waiting for feeling good in the water - day after day - probing your body during the short workout.
I hate the questions that go through your head - even after having done this so many times. Did you train enough - will the taper be too long - too short - can you really taper when you swim so much less ?
And then one day (hopefully before the meet) I jump in the pool and it starts to click. I feel good in warm up and the build sprints feel even better. I swim a pace 50 that feels effortless and just get a little smile on my face when I hit the wall in a time that would have required an all out sprint just 2 weeks ago. Finally the taper is over and the meet can start ....
Isn't it a bit early for a serious taper? It's eight days to the Southern Pacific regionals ... and 19+ days until the national LCM meet ...
Just wondering ...
You can't simply put a number of days on a taper and expect it to "fit" everyone. Each person is different and in general the older you get the more rest you typically need....and swimming LC vs. SC adds to that.
For me...48 years old...weights stop 21-25 days before my main LC meet. Yardage will stay the same for 21 to about 10 days out but I will increase my rest on hard sets....do more speed work...and less kicking.
7-10 days out is a gradual reduction in yardage from about 2500-3000m a day 4-5 days a week to about 1500-2000 3 x a week and about 500 3x a week. last 3-4 days is less than a thousand a day...bestially warming up till i feel good and working on tempo/hand speed with lots of hypoxic recovery.
There's a couple of very good articles in this months bicycling magazine about tapering....diet during taper, etc....better stuff than i see in most swimming magazines. Bottom line is more rest is better....don't test new food/gel/recovery drinks...increase card to protein ration to 4 : 1, etc.
Isn't it a bit early for a serious taper? It's eight days to the Southern Pacific regionals ... and 19+ days until the national LCM meet ...
Just wondering ...
You can't simply put a number of days on a taper and expect it to "fit" everyone. Each person is different and in general the older you get the more rest you typically need....and swimming LC vs. SC adds to that.
For me...48 years old...weights stop 21-25 days before my main LC meet. Yardage will stay the same for 21 to about 10 days out but I will increase my rest on hard sets....do more speed work...and less kicking.
7-10 days out is a gradual reduction in yardage from about 2500-3000m a day 4-5 days a week to about 1500-2000 3 x a week and about 500 3x a week. last 3-4 days is less than a thousand a day...bestially warming up till i feel good and working on tempo/hand speed with lots of hypoxic recovery.
There's a couple of very good articles in this months bicycling magazine about tapering....diet during taper, etc....better stuff than i see in most swimming magazines. Bottom line is more rest is better....don't test new food/gel/recovery drinks...increase card to protein ration to 4 : 1, etc.
