Coaches and Sprinting

I wouldn't worry too much about Zones, if I were you. Book a massage after to help speed recovery to prep for Nats. I would try the tech suit. Maybe give it a whirl in practice if you want to see how it feels. The proposed plan may work for college kids, not such a good plan for masters perhaps. Even a sprinter extending up to 200s shouldn't be "working hard" less than a week before Nats. 5-6 days is more of a mini taper or distance taper. I followed Chris Stevenson's taper plan for Auburn and it worked very well (see "Drop Dead Taper" thread). You need a plan to taper and drop weights too. Maybe the following: 3 weeks out: drop cross training, drop or taper weights depending on how much you're doing (I think Wally and Chris S. drop weights 3-4 weeks out, but they heavy lift 3x a week) 2 weeks out: drop weights, drop yardage slightly, drop intensity -- no hard aerobic work, fewer sprints 1 week out: drop yardage and intensity, only do a few fast 50s and 25s with a couple meet warm ups at the end of the week. I frequently hear swimmers I respect say that we need more rest than we think. You've worked really hard this year. I'd give a real taper a shot. Thanks- I agree about Zones. We're also on the same page with the taper concept- the schedule you outline above is what I was anticipating I'd do. I'm still lifting 3x/wk but am into the "Taper" phase of Lezak's weight routine. My last lifting day will be 2wks before Nats, and I think it's 1 round of 10 reps; light and for speed. I don't think my skinny a$$ needs as much rest from weights as Wally or Chris. So I'll be able to rest from weights since I do that on my own. Also still doing the AFAP stuff 2x/wk outside of practice- I was thinking I'd do that up until Zones and then start to cut down 2 weeks before Nats. Will definitely take the advice on massage and tech suit if it is an option.

I wouldn't worry too much about Zones, if I were you. Book a massage after to help speed recovery to prep for Nats. I would try the tech suit. Maybe give it a whirl in practice if you want to see how it feels. The proposed plan may work for college kids, not such a good plan for masters perhaps. Even a sprinter extending up to 200s shouldn't be "working hard" less than a week before Nats. 5-6 days is more of a mini taper or distance taper. I followed Chris Stevenson's taper plan for Auburn and it worked very well (see "Drop Dead Taper" thread). You need a plan to taper and drop weights too. Maybe the following: 3 weeks out: drop cross training, drop or taper weights depending on how much you're doing (I think Wally and Chris S. drop weights 3-4 weeks out, but they heavy lift 3x a week) 2 weeks out: drop weights, drop yardage slightly, drop intensity -- no hard aerobic work, fewer sprints 1 week out: drop yardage and intensity, only do a few fast 50s and 25s with a couple meet warm ups at the end of the week. I frequently hear swimmers I respect say that we need more rest than we think. You've worked really hard this year. I'd give a real taper a shot. Thanks- I agree about Zones. We're also on the same page with the taper concept- the schedule you outline above is what I was anticipating I'd do. I'm still lifting 3x/wk but am into the "Taper" phase of Lezak's weight routine. My last lifting day will be 2wks before Nats, and I think it's 1 round of 10 reps; light and for speed. I don't think my skinny a$$ needs as much rest from weights as Wally or Chris. So I'll be able to rest from weights since I do that on my own. Also still doing the AFAP stuff 2x/wk outside of practice- I was thinking I'd do that up until Zones and then start to cut down 2 weeks before Nats. Will definitely take the advice on massage and tech suit if it is an option.