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.
This seems ideal, for sure. I do recall you feeling kinda crappy at one point at Rutgers though. Right before you swam an unbelievable PB.
Which goes to show that maybe (subjective) feelings about how fast/slow/good/bad one feels should be taken with a grain of salt! :) I've definitely also had mediocre or disappointing swims when I was feeling great in the water. Tapering is such a head game.
(In this case, though I think what I felt was residual sickness from the sinusitis I had a couple weeks prior; it isn't my usual feeling during taper.)
As far as weights: err on the side of caution (more rest) is my motto. There have been a number of times that I know I was losing "weight lifting" strength during taper even as my raw speed, power, and max sustainable turnover rate increased in the water.
Others will disagree with me on this, I know; you'll have to experiment to find your sweet spot. Just remember that the ultimate goal is to swim fast, not to be able to lift heavy weights at your taper meet.
This seems ideal, for sure. I do recall you feeling kinda crappy at one point at Rutgers though. Right before you swam an unbelievable PB.
Which goes to show that maybe (subjective) feelings about how fast/slow/good/bad one feels should be taken with a grain of salt! :) I've definitely also had mediocre or disappointing swims when I was feeling great in the water. Tapering is such a head game.
(In this case, though I think what I felt was residual sickness from the sinusitis I had a couple weeks prior; it isn't my usual feeling during taper.)
As far as weights: err on the side of caution (more rest) is my motto. There have been a number of times that I know I was losing "weight lifting" strength during taper even as my raw speed, power, and max sustainable turnover rate increased in the water.
Others will disagree with me on this, I know; you'll have to experiment to find your sweet spot. Just remember that the ultimate goal is to swim fast, not to be able to lift heavy weights at your taper meet.
