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.
I don't profess to be an expert by any means...and recoginize there are lots of different studies out there showing conflicting research...however I have never heard that resting 2-3 weeks has any significant impact on loss of strength or cause any significant muscle atrophy.
What I have been told and read a bit about that is fascinating...and seems to make sense to me as far as the changes I find occur in my body when I taper is research thats shows that traditional weight training:
A) Typically cause a **** to fewer fast twtich muscle fibers and more swlo twitch
B) That rest/recovery and some degree of atrophy cause the reverse effect.
One overview of some of this is here: sportsmedicine.about.com/.../MuscleFiberType.htm
I don't profess to be an expert by any means...and recoginize there are lots of different studies out there showing conflicting research...however I have never heard that resting 2-3 weeks has any significant impact on loss of strength or cause any significant muscle atrophy.
What I have been told and read a bit about that is fascinating...and seems to make sense to me as far as the changes I find occur in my body when I taper is research thats shows that traditional weight training:
A) Typically cause a **** to fewer fast twtich muscle fibers and more swlo twitch
B) That rest/recovery and some degree of atrophy cause the reverse effect.
One overview of some of this is here: sportsmedicine.about.com/.../MuscleFiberType.htm
