Well, i am 14 years old, and i have a very important meet coming up for my club team. high school season just ended last week, and the meet is coming up in 15 days.
Anyways, top 6 people final per event, and for some reason, i am just coming short in some events.
My current times are: (in SCY)
50 free-26.82, and i will need to go a 26.23 to final (last time i did this event was about a week before christmas, so i assume i should go faster this time because i plan on being well tapered and alot stronger.)
100 free- 59.83, and i will need to go a 57.66 to final (Okay, for this event, what should i do? I have never really "sprinted" a full 100. i go at around 95% because if i go all out on the first 50, i am practically dead for the second one. Should i try to go all out on this race, or just play it safe?)
100 ***- 1:14.75 (I will need to go around a 1:13 to final. I'm pretty sure i will be able to make this time, because, again, last time i did this was before christmas.)
I will plan on wearing a FSII legskin for my free events and a FSI Brief for my ***.
My current plan is to go all out at practice for the remainder of this week and all of next week, then taper the week after that, and the meet is friday - sunday. I will plan on lifting weights this week and next week to become stronger for the meet. I practice about 3.5 hours daily, by going to two practices, but the week before the meet, i will only be in for maximum of two hours.
So, my question to you is, what will i need to work on for each event to go this faster than ever before in 15 days? Any comments on my taper schedule? Anything to add?
Thanks again :)
Parents
Former Member
At this point you need to trust that you've put in the work that you need to make those times, and have confidence that you will swim faster with the preparations over your season and with your taper.
The pace that you can take a race out in should feel the same perceived effort as you did during your in-season meets but your times should come down.
You should have more energy as you get into the taper. Remember to relax and don't waste the extra energy by adding extra activities to your life. Save it for the pool. Be sure to get enough sleep.
In past years in my area, many high school swimmers did "reverse tapers" - two weeks before their championship meet, they decide to swim extra yards and 2-a-day practices to get really-really in shape. Almost without exception, they swim very poorly at their meet as they are too fatigued -- they left their race in the practice pool.
At this point you need to trust that you've put in the work that you need to make those times, and have confidence that you will swim faster with the preparations over your season and with your taper.
The pace that you can take a race out in should feel the same perceived effort as you did during your in-season meets but your times should come down.
You should have more energy as you get into the taper. Remember to relax and don't waste the extra energy by adding extra activities to your life. Save it for the pool. Be sure to get enough sleep.
In past years in my area, many high school swimmers did "reverse tapers" - two weeks before their championship meet, they decide to swim extra yards and 2-a-day practices to get really-really in shape. Almost without exception, they swim very poorly at their meet as they are too fatigued -- they left their race in the practice pool.
