How much training should I be doing the week, or a few weeks, before a meet? I only swim 50's and the occasionaly a 100.
I understand the principles of tapering but when 2 of my 3 sessions are less than 1000m (and apart from the 400m ish warm up all done fast) i can hardly cut the meterage.
Should i increase aerobic training? - surely this would make me more tired as i'm not used to distance work.
Or should I just be resting for 1 week - That doesn't make much sense to me either?
I'm competing this saturday and was going to train as normal upto friday night as I don't consider this a special meet for me. any thoughts though for bigger meets where I want to be fresh but still race fit?
Former Member
seeing how you're not swimming many yards as it is i agree that cutting yardage is a tough ask.
You can still modify workouts in terms of intensity so you're resting a bit more. Having a longer warmup/drill and a longer cooldown in your workout will reduce yardage spend at max intensity and rest you a bit.
doing a a set then 100 ez then a set will also help you rest your muscles a bit.
Another thing that i think helps for sprinting is doing like 25's with fins. it stresses the legs a bit more (but they are bigger muscles and can handle it), but you can get some good speed work in and get a good feel for swimming at race pace.
I usually do some of the above, but i dunno how it works with your yardage.
a sprinter in my group swam normally until about 2 weeks out. then he started doing slightly less yardage and added 4x25 all out with about 3-5 minutes rest. his last work out the tuesday before a 4 day meet was about 500 warm up, mixed tech and just slow swimming. and then 2 x25 all out.
