I totally forgot to mention the perfect, post-meet meal: a double-double with grilled onions from In-n-Out burgers (www.in-n-out.com/menu.asp).
Cream Puff, before someone beats me to it, I would like to invite you to enjoy an In-n-Out with me at the next meet we both attend. No onions, please.
--Your first and still most devoted stalker, Jimby.
I try to do this, although I never cool down 500.
If memory serves... you might consider my focus event "distance". :)
I need a longer cool down to feel good even after practice. Of course, I have never done that much at the end of a meet, but at the end of practice I will do between 4-600 yards to cool down. Expected cool down is only 1-200 yards after practice.
It would be interesting to see what the under 40 crowd does as recovery as opposed to the over 40 crowd. As we age, recovery seems to play such a bigger role in how we train.
I can remember doing a "recovery run" of 10 miles on Sunday after a hard 5k, 10k, or triathlon when I was 35 or 36. At that age, it wasn't unusual for me to do a 40 mile bike ride on Sunday as recovery and then do a 10 mile run in the afternoon as more recovery. If I did that now, no matter what kind of shape I am in, I think I'd have to stay in bed for a couple of days!
I'm finding that the older I get, the more of a cool-down I need after my swims. Anybody found this to be the case?
Sorry, She-Puffster, the best thing after a meet is 2 pints of Guiness, preferably around 1 pm Sunday afternoon.
First of all my Geekish friend, Guinness is spelled with two Ns! And if two are good, why aren't six better? I'll bet your boy 'Stud would jump on you too!:argue:
And, I think I have to agree with 'Puff, Mexican food is good any time, but it's especially good after a weekend of self-flagellation (the big word is just for you Jimby)!
CreamPuff, I really thought you were swimming two a days with the kids.
LOL. That would be hard to do considering my group (SR I) doesn't do doubles for the majority of the year. My coach will not let me do doubles - didn't do them when training for the 25K either.
Boy, if I were doing doubles, I would sure as heck hope my times were way better than what they are now. . . :bitching::bitching:
Gotta admit, I never could do all that you listed above at ANY age - 18 or otherwise. I guess it's all relative.
Pretty sure we've talked ad nauseam on this forum regarding more recovery is needed as we age. I see a huge difference (and not for the better) between 16 and 36. It flat out sux. And yes, when I hit 40 I've been told that I've got two feet in the grave at that point. :afraid::cane:
The mental toughness one has at 36 just completely trumps what one has at 16. I don't think I could have done what I mentioned at 16. I'm not so sure it was hitting 40 that made me slow down or the cumulative craziness of what I was doing at 34 to 39 without sufficient recovery.
A lady who is doing 24 hour adventure races at 60 and who set amazing running records back in her 30s and 40s taught me the valuable lesson of heart rate training. People think it is silly to wear one of those things when one swims, but it taught me to slow down on those days when I was supposed to be recovering.
My next meet is an other short local meet. I expect to be there 3 to 4 hours and I will try the following.
- stay well hydrated with water during the meet
- warm up and down after events (hopefully the outdoor pool is open for warm up/down)
- cool down ~500yds if the outdoor pool is open
- Endurox immediately after my last event
- pack something to eat (peanut butter sandwich maybe) to tide me over until I can get some real food
- eat a healthly meal washed down with water
- hit the gym a little later for 1-2k yoga swim + hot tub
- workout Sunday
qbrain, you answered your own question! I assume you mean the SMU meet. What suit are you wearing? I was at D&J today. If the outdoor pool isn't open, you can be sure I will be begging Bobby to take a break during the meet. I find that stretching and a few jumping jacks is a very good substitute for cool down, along with "wonder woman" arm/body swings. But stand in one place, don't twirl around.
LOL - This thread really interests me. I'm never tired after a meet. I typically have great practices right after the meet. I'm starting to think meets are a break from my training. I warm down lots after each swim and I drink a good recovery drink immediately after I'm done for the day.
The only other thing I can add is that I make sure to go to practice the following day. I used to take a day or two off and I found (years back) that I would be very stiff. The college gals I swam with (and their coaches) recommended to get in and swim the next day as that's what they do to prevent soreness, stiffness, etc. First time I heard this I thought they were all insane. But it works for me. . . but I guess I also train significant yardage over what I actually race, warm up and warm down in a meet.
She-Puffy and I might be twins on this. This is exactly the same as me. I usually have a great workout the next day and then start to feel a bit rough but forge through. I actually really look forward to a hard workout the day after a meet figuring there might be some taper left.
The mental toughness one has at 36 just completely trumps what one has at 16. I don't think I could have done what I mentioned at 16. I'm not so sure it was hitting 40 that made me slow down or the cumulative craziness of what I was doing at 34 to 39 without sufficient recovery that made me slow down.
I have a good friend who is an elite runner. He told me that a lot of distance athletes -- marathoners, triathletes -- peak in their 30's.
