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.
Parents
Former Member
Wolfie. There is no toning in the same way there is no stroke called Freestyle, but rather a category.
I see plenty of people talking about toning their bodies at the gym or wherever. If you want to label it maintenance that's fine with me. However, serious weight trainers will not do light weight high reps because it doesn't really add mass, it tends to strengthen and tone! If you disagree with my point, fine but don't nitpick the language.
Paul's point is that different rep ranges don't have different effects on muscle. Any given muscle is either being strengthened, weakened, or maintained, mostly due to changes in the size of the muscle. The more intense your strength training is, the more you will tend toward larger and stronger muscle. That's all there is to it.
Shifting to higher reps during a taper is not smart. Any time you change a lifting program around you're liable to get sore and fatigued. Just stop lifting a couple weeks out and strength (in the water) will stay steady or increase slightly.
Wolfie. There is no toning in the same way there is no stroke called Freestyle, but rather a category.
I see plenty of people talking about toning their bodies at the gym or wherever. If you want to label it maintenance that's fine with me. However, serious weight trainers will not do light weight high reps because it doesn't really add mass, it tends to strengthen and tone! If you disagree with my point, fine but don't nitpick the language.
Paul's point is that different rep ranges don't have different effects on muscle. Any given muscle is either being strengthened, weakened, or maintained, mostly due to changes in the size of the muscle. The more intense your strength training is, the more you will tend toward larger and stronger muscle. That's all there is to it.
Shifting to higher reps during a taper is not smart. Any time you change a lifting program around you're liable to get sore and fatigued. Just stop lifting a couple weeks out and strength (in the water) will stay steady or increase slightly.
