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.
What's the physiology or other reasoning behind this?
No idea. Honestly, the main thing swimming has taught me is that whatever theory I come up with will be proven wrong as soon as possible.
Just in experience, we train with a rest in December, ratchet things up through training trip in February, taper for the end of March (10 days), swim hard in April and then do another ten-day taper for Nationals. Pretty much across the board people swim faster at Nationals.
(We do swim more races for the March meet, but the effect shows even in the first few swims, which shouldn't be affected by that.)
What's the physiology or other reasoning behind this?
No idea. Honestly, the main thing swimming has taught me is that whatever theory I come up with will be proven wrong as soon as possible.
Just in experience, we train with a rest in December, ratchet things up through training trip in February, taper for the end of March (10 days), swim hard in April and then do another ten-day taper for Nationals. Pretty much across the board people swim faster at Nationals.
(We do swim more races for the March meet, but the effect shows even in the first few swims, which shouldn't be affected by that.)
