In threads where training philosophy comes up, discussions of TRIMPS and TSS and other training models occasionally intrude. These models are not very well known, and even more poorly understood, so probably SolarEnergy, qbrain and I are just talking to each other and killing threads in those conversations. In any case, I figured I would present a brief overview of what it is that we're talking about when this terminology starts showing up.
Best case, this will introduce these models to the subset of swimmers (or coaches) who would be interested enough to use them, but didn't previously know enough to do so.
Plus, even if you're not the type to be interested in quantifying your training, it can be useful to think about workouts in this general framework.
And, at the very least, this might serve as a place to discuss some of the details without worrying about driving those other threads too far off-topic.
"Sudden break" tapers are an interesting topic. I have certainly heard of a number of cases -- as I'm certain you have -- where illness or injury forced someone essentially to adopt this strategy, and the result is usually not the disaster that the person feared. In some cases the person does better than in previous conventional tapers (or, at least, no worse).
But here is a situation where the models may be dangerously simplified. It isn't just about fatigue vs fitness: stay out of the water too long and you lose your "feel" (muscle memory, whatever) and your stroke efficiency may deteriorate. It is always a good thing not to fall too much in love with any model.:)
"Sudden break" tapers are an interesting topic. I have certainly heard of a number of cases -- as I'm certain you have -- where illness or injury forced someone essentially to adopt this strategy, and the result is usually not the disaster that the person feared. In some cases the person does better than in previous conventional tapers (or, at least, no worse).
But here is a situation where the models may be dangerously simplified. It isn't just about fatigue vs fitness: stay out of the water too long and you lose your "feel" (muscle memory, whatever) and your stroke efficiency may deteriorate. It is always a good thing not to fall too much in love with any model.:)
