Preparing for the competition

Hi, I can't say I'm experienced swimmer. I used to swim at school for 4 years then I had a break for 20 years. A year ago I restored my trainings (now I'm 35). So now in about 2 weeks I'm going to participate in competitions (just a small club masters event). I would like to know if I should add smth to my trainings or to remove smth. I'm going to swim 2 distances - 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke. I would appreciate any help. :) I'm training 3 times a week, swimming for 1 hour in a 50m pool. Here are my 3 last trainings just to give an idea where am I: 1) Warm up: 1х200m IM. Rest: 10sec /200m Core: 4x100m Fly 3+3+3. Rest: 10sec/100m 4x100m Freestyle 6+6+6. Rest: 8sec/100m 8x50m Freestyle. @ 60sec. 6x50m Freestyle kickboard. All out. Rest: 20sec/50m 1x400m Breaststroke kickboard. Rest: 10sec/400m 1x200m Freestyle. Rest: 8sec 4x50m Breaststroke Pull with a pull buoy. Rest: 20 sec/50m Warm down: 2х50m Breaststroke. 2x50m Freestyle. Total: 2700m 2)Warm up: 1х200m Breaststroke. Rest: 8sec /200m 4х50m Free. Catch up drill. Rest: 8sec/50m Core: 3x (100m Fly. fins/100m Back easy) Rest: 10sec /50m5х200m Free. fins. paddles. Rest: 15sec /100m 1x300m Fly. kickboard. fins. Rest: 8sec / 300m 1х300m Free. kickboard. fins. Rest: 8sec / 300m 4x50m Free. kickboard. fins. @ 1:00 Warm down: 1х200m Back. Total: 3000m 3)Warm up: 2х100m ***. Rest: 8sec /100m 2х200m IM. Rest: 10sec / 200m Core: 6 x(100m Free/100m Back). Rest: 10sec/ 100m 10x50m Free. 50/50 All out/Easy Rest: 30sec / 50m 10х50m ***. 50/50 All out/Easy Rest: 30sec / 50m Warm down: 2х100m Back. Total: 3000m
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  • I would like to get more details. Do I need to make some tapering in my case if I'm training 3 times a week? What kind of workouts should I concentrate on? More sprint sets or just aerobic swimming adding 1-2 sprint sets? How long before the event is the best time to eat? I read a lot about tapering but all the examples I saw are definitely for professionals they consider you make 6+ trainings a week and before competitions their workouts are not less than 3000meters (in season they swim much more) and 3000m - that is my normal training. So I'm a bit confused. Thanks. I've been doing approximately 3000 yards each practice for 5-6 swims a week on average throughout the year. For the past two weeks before Nationals for my taper I've cut my yardage and intensity down by approximately 50% or more, especially in the final week. My last 2-3 swims have been 800-1300 yards in length. I am mainly a middle distance swimmer, and my type of training may not work for other middle distance swimmers. Everyone is different, you just have to try to find something that works well for you.
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  • I would like to get more details. Do I need to make some tapering in my case if I'm training 3 times a week? What kind of workouts should I concentrate on? More sprint sets or just aerobic swimming adding 1-2 sprint sets? How long before the event is the best time to eat? I read a lot about tapering but all the examples I saw are definitely for professionals they consider you make 6+ trainings a week and before competitions their workouts are not less than 3000meters (in season they swim much more) and 3000m - that is my normal training. So I'm a bit confused. Thanks. I've been doing approximately 3000 yards each practice for 5-6 swims a week on average throughout the year. For the past two weeks before Nationals for my taper I've cut my yardage and intensity down by approximately 50% or more, especially in the final week. My last 2-3 swims have been 800-1300 yards in length. I am mainly a middle distance swimmer, and my type of training may not work for other middle distance swimmers. Everyone is different, you just have to try to find something that works well for you.
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