I'm planning on resting for a meet in Feb. As usual, I'm wondering what taper to use, how much to rest, etc. I don't feel like I've really hit on the "one" plan that works for me.
I know everyone has their own approach to taper and may taper for between 1-4 weeks. In every taper plan I've seen, the yardage always drops off gradually. Has anyone ever tried a "drop dead" taper? One where you continue to exercise at your regular level and then, say 7 days before the big meet, you precipitously drop the yardage down to 1500 or so with very little sprinting? Thoughts?
I'm wondering if this type of taper might work for me, as I feel (possibly falsely) like I lose conditioning if I taper too long.
My "tapers" involve this:
Friday: normal swim volume (4,000-5,000yds)
Saturday: rest (this is the Saturday before the meet)
Sun.-Wed.: easy 500 warm up, 3-5 sprints in events I plan to swim with lots of rest (say, 100yds on 6-8 min interval), then about 200yd warm down trying to keep good form.
Thu. & Fri.: rest and eat.
Sat: swim guts out, then eat and sleep.
I also don't hit the weights the week before. So far this has worked for me. I've dropped time in each meet. I have yet to do one "big" meet, so each meet I do I just do mini tapers.
:D:bliss:
My "tapers" involve this:
Friday: normal swim volume (4,000-5,000yds)
Saturday: rest (this is the Saturday before the meet)
Sun.-Wed.: easy 500 warm up, 3-5 sprints in events I plan to swim with lots of rest (say, 100yds on 6-8 min interval), then about 200yd warm down trying to keep good form.
Thu. & Fri.: rest and eat.
Sat: swim guts out, then eat and sleep.
I also don't hit the weights the week before. So far this has worked for me. I've dropped time in each meet. I have yet to do one "big" meet, so each meet I do I just do mini tapers.
:D:bliss:
