i have been swimming for about a year. 4000-4500 yards per swim 3-4 times a week, mostly 4 times. i have swam in 4 meets and have a scy meet coming up at the end of june. a three day meet, sat- mon. there is a lcm meet i want to attend one week before. will a swim the week before hurt my performance the following week?
the 3 day event i will be swimming 200, 100 and 50 free, 200 im, 100 bk and 50 back.
at the vegas lcm, one day meet i am thinking about doing the 50 fly, 100 back, 50 free and 200 im. fly and ind med are not my best events so i want the practice.
i am now starting to cut my yardage to about 3000-3500 yrds per session. trying to push faster and keeping the repeats heavy at 120 yards some 200 and a few 40-60 yrd sprints. 45% back 45% free 10% fly and ind med work. after a year i can't believe how poor my endurance is. should i stop playing racquetball and stop lifting or just cut back? i think i am over analyzing this stuff but i do want to be fast.
this tapper thing i do not fully grasp. what else should i be doing?
Taper for the big meet. You'll have a partial taper for the smaller meet. I don't think the meets close together will be a problem as long as you concentrate on the taper for the big meet.
What works for me during a taper is to practice swimming race pace. I have to get the feel for the right pace. I'll swim the first 1/4 of each race, trying to hit the right pace. I might do 2 x 50 at 200 pace. 25s are important for me. All of my best 50s have been after a taper. It seems to take awhile to get the 25s fast enough for a good 50. Mix it up during taper practices and take enough rest between swims.
I have learned that I swim best in a big meet when I am confident that I can hit the right pace regardless of who else is in the heat.
Yardage seems to take care of itself. If you have a good warm-up (practice your meet warm-up), plenty of rest during your broken or partial swims, and a good cool-down, there is not enough time to do much yardage.
I have done my best in meets when during the last week I am energentic and want to do "one more" swim. Leaving wanting more is a good sign.
Taper for the big meet. You'll have a partial taper for the smaller meet. I don't think the meets close together will be a problem as long as you concentrate on the taper for the big meet.
What works for me during a taper is to practice swimming race pace. I have to get the feel for the right pace. I'll swim the first 1/4 of each race, trying to hit the right pace. I might do 2 x 50 at 200 pace. 25s are important for me. All of my best 50s have been after a taper. It seems to take awhile to get the 25s fast enough for a good 50. Mix it up during taper practices and take enough rest between swims.
I have learned that I swim best in a big meet when I am confident that I can hit the right pace regardless of who else is in the heat.
Yardage seems to take care of itself. If you have a good warm-up (practice your meet warm-up), plenty of rest during your broken or partial swims, and a good cool-down, there is not enough time to do much yardage.
I have done my best in meets when during the last week I am energentic and want to do "one more" swim. Leaving wanting more is a good sign.
