The Taper Lane

skinny distancy divas there's always lots to talk about in the taper lane is any of it true?

I typically have a 3 week taper and the 2nd week is always lousy.I have cut down my work and I should have more energy,but my legs feel like lead , my workouts are poor and I feel more tired after an easy workout than after a hard one in mid-season.I don't know the physiology of this but it happens every time.Also I spend most of the taper worrying about getting sick.

I typically have a 3 week taper and the 2nd week is always lousy.I have cut down my work and I should have more energy,but my legs feel like lead , my workouts are poor and I feel more tired after an easy workout than after a hard one in mid-season.I don't know the physiology of this but it happens every time.Also I spend most of the taper worrying about getting sick. I always have a period of feeling awful, doubting everything, worrying about getting sick, about hurting myself (pulling muscle, etc.), and generally being a basket case. I'm much happier during regular training times but if you hit your taper right, you feel like a super hero, capable of anything.

OK, taper experts, I can use some advice... :agree: When should I quit weights to taper for Nationals? From what I have read, it looks like two weeks prior. Do you agree? How about other dryland exercises and aerobic workouts (treadmill, etc.)? When I joined Masters in February, I was swimming every other day and hitting the gym on alternate days for 50 min. aerobic, followed by weights. The past two weeks I cut back on the gym and increased swimming to 5 days/wk. (I workout 7 days/wk, however, I one of those days is always lighter.) Any advice on the dryland schedule? By the way, one thing I do EVERY day is stretch. I highly recommend the stretches written up in the Jan-Feb. 2010 issue of Swimmer Mag. I found the article in the back issues on the website and was happy I did! They have been great for improving my streamline in breaststroke and turns. :D Thanks for your help! :D

+1. In fact, everything becomes more worrisome. Getting hydrated, making sure you feed well, sleep well. don't get sick, don't get sick etc. Getting hydrated and making sure I eat well is the eay part. The HARD part is "sleep well". I make sure I'm in bed to get enough sleep and I even fall asleep fast enough. But, STAYING asleep is another issue. Then, once I wake up, getting BACK to sleep. Uggggghhhh! Mostly, it's not even a mental thing; it's physical/ medical issues that get in the way of good :bed:. :bitching:

I plan to take an extra day off prior, and sleeping 3-4 extra hours just in case I have trouble sleeping the night prior

Also I spend most of the taper worrying about getting sick. +1. In fact, everything becomes more worrisome. Getting hydrated, making sure you feed well, sleep well. don't get sick, don't get sick etc.

Is it ironic that it's fast becoming good advice to avoid this thread when one tapers?

OK, taper experts, I can use some advice... :agree: When should I quit weights to taper for Nationals? From what I have read, it looks like two weeks prior. Do you agree? How about other dryland exercises and aerobic workouts (treadmill, etc.)? When I joined Masters in February, I was swimming every other day and hitting the gym on alternate days for 50 min. aerobic, followed by weights. The past two weeks I cut back on the gym and increased swimming to 5 days/wk. (I workout 7 days/wk, however, I one of those days is always lighter.) Any advice on the dryland schedule? By the way, one thing I do EVERY day is stretch. I highly recommend the stretches written up in the Jan-Feb. 2010 issue of Swimmer Mag. I found the article in the back issues on the website and was happy I did! They have been great for improving my streamline in breaststroke and turns. :D Thanks for your help! :D I would stop doing biking 2 weeks out. I would lift light weights, less reps the week before and then stop the week of. You can still do your core work - planks, situps, etc. Rest is important. Sprinters rest more, older folks rest more, distance folks rest less, younger folks rest less. Women tend to lift closer to the big meet than guys do. Do track how you feel so you can tinker with things for next time if you think you need to. Hope this helps! --mj

I would stop doing biking 2 weeks out. I would lift light weights, less reps the week before and then stop the week of. You can still do your core work - planks, situps, etc. Rest is important. Sprinters rest more, older folks rest more, distance folks rest less, younger folks rest less. Women tend to lift closer to the big meet than guys do. Do track how you feel so you can tinker with things for next time if you think you need to. Hope this helps! --mj Thanks MJ and everybody else for your advice and feedback. It sounds good to me! :D