After having what I considered to be a fairly decent meet last weekend, I am having a string of terrible workouts. I am used to having a bad day here and there, but this is ridiculous.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am still in my first year of competing so I am still learning what to expect and what is "normal" for me.
Hey Marianne! I usually like to go to practice the day after a meet in order to do a long, slow swim and work out all the lactic acid. Monday am thunderstorms ruined that this week. So I did that on Tues and felt really good but today's workout which was harder than Tues but not all out felt like I was struggling to keep up a good pace (Wed t-storms ruined practice yet again). And I'm sure it's just that I'm coming off my taper, which was extra long this month because of two weekends of meets in a row. Generally if I hit it right, I feel pretty good for a day or two after a meet and then it takes a few weeks to start feeling like my pacing is back to where it should be. Don't sweat it. The next big meet around here's not til June!
Thanks Heidi, more great advice. After reading all the responses, I feel better about it already. It was great meeting you at the meet and I look forward to seeing you next time!
You can expect to have 2 or 3 days of uncomfortable workouts (or more) following a meet. I'd suggest warming down sufficiently after each event during the meet and drinking plenty of fluids. Still, you will feel it for a while. Take this as a good sign- that you had a good workout that weekend :)
Was it a multiple day meet or did you swim numerous events? I usually take Monday off (or use it as a recovery day) after a hard 2-3 day meet. How many days per week do you usually swim?
I will say, I had a rough entire week of practices after doing the 3k Postal in the fall. That was very unusual for me, but it was something I hadn't swum hard in years.
I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it extends into the next few weeks, you can post more information (types of practices and lengths, etc) and people will be happy to try and identify what the issue might be. Otherwise, I'd say you're probably just recovering from the meet.
At the end of my last meet I was starting to get a cold. I decided to enjoy what was left of my taper monday morning and ended up paying dearly for it. Tuesday, I was sick in bed from exhaustion and a worse cold and the remainder of the week, I just wasn't myself.
After having what I considered to be a fairly decent meet last weekend, I am having a string of terrible workouts. I am used to having a bad day here and there, but this is ridiculous.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am still in my first year of competing so I am still learning what to expect and what is "normal" for me.
Marianne,
I practiced Monday and Tues normally and was a bit tired and worn down too (moreso on Tues) after the weekends meet. Its pretty normal. Nothing wrong with taking a day off in the middle of the week to recover. Generally I use Wednesday as a dryland day and may or may not get in the pool and float 2-3K.
Just remember, its not always how you feel or do in workouts, but the effort you put forth.
actually did not taper for meet because i have ynats coming up. it is hard to taper from 3300 anyway.
I am doing other training away from pool and it might be catching up.
i just need a vacation:)
Surely you jest. NO ONE swims well after a meet - specially if you rest a bit for the meet - 2 & 3 day meets wear you out physically & mentally. Give yourself a break!
Oh, and I know it sounds silly, but check your biorhythms. . . if they were amazing during the weekend of the meet, it's a no brainer that they are going down right after.
we don't have many meets in the galmsc like the florida lmsc. so i was probably flat. last meet for me was june of last year.
I came from florida lmsc where most meets were 2 day marathon meets( or so they seemed under the sun:) ). the one day meets are the killers for me.
