Okay first a few stats: When I am training "hard" I swim 18-20K per week in 5 workouts, with one wokrout being only 2K of technique work. I trained hard from Jan to March and swam pretty well at a taper meet. Generally I think that I need 10 weeks of hard training, followed by a 10 day taper to have a succesful taper meet.
Well, first I got sick and now that I am almost better I will be going out of town for 10 days. I have no chance at having a succesful training for my big summer meet because it is now only 8 weeks off. Facot in a taper and I am only going to get 6 weeks of hard work minus 10 days off. So my question is:
How much yardage should I do NOW so that when the fall rolls around and I start training for my next big meet I am not starting over? I don't have the mental energy to commit to full training, but I don't want to lose gound. Thoughts...
Parents
Former Member
I mean this playfully and mostly jokingly, but, umm.. suck it up. So you have 8 weeks instead of 10? I don't see that as a reason to completely pass over the end of season meet. Even if you don't do your best, you will probably be best prepared for the fall season if you go through training for the meet. That way, you'll get endurance work in, sprint work in, and have something to look forward to.
But, if you don't want to do that, then I would suggest plan a time trial for yourself 11 weeks from now. train for 10 weeks, taper for one week, and then get up and race yourself or with some friends. Make it meaningful.
Now, here's the trick - after the time trial, DON'T TAKE ANY TIME OFF! Lots of swimmers take time off after a season ending meet. BIG MISTAKE. A full taper, plus time off absoultely kills what you've gained over a season. Instead, go into a RECOVERY TRAINING phase where you focus on aerobic activity, drill work, whatever. Nothing stressful, just don't stop swimming. You're "resting" but you're not losing your feel for the water. Say you do that for 2 weeks, so now you're at 13 weeks from today. In those 13 weeks, you will be better prepared than any of your competitiors who enter the meet 8 weeks from now, taper, and then take time off.
After those two recovery weeks, if you wanted, you could even take a week off then. A week of rest won't blow your season, but a taper plus time off can set you back.
Hope this helps!
Ryan@ICoachSwimming.com
www.ICoachSwimming.com
We're trying to get 400 unique visitors for the month of May!
I mean this playfully and mostly jokingly, but, umm.. suck it up. So you have 8 weeks instead of 10? I don't see that as a reason to completely pass over the end of season meet. Even if you don't do your best, you will probably be best prepared for the fall season if you go through training for the meet. That way, you'll get endurance work in, sprint work in, and have something to look forward to.
But, if you don't want to do that, then I would suggest plan a time trial for yourself 11 weeks from now. train for 10 weeks, taper for one week, and then get up and race yourself or with some friends. Make it meaningful.
Now, here's the trick - after the time trial, DON'T TAKE ANY TIME OFF! Lots of swimmers take time off after a season ending meet. BIG MISTAKE. A full taper, plus time off absoultely kills what you've gained over a season. Instead, go into a RECOVERY TRAINING phase where you focus on aerobic activity, drill work, whatever. Nothing stressful, just don't stop swimming. You're "resting" but you're not losing your feel for the water. Say you do that for 2 weeks, so now you're at 13 weeks from today. In those 13 weeks, you will be better prepared than any of your competitiors who enter the meet 8 weeks from now, taper, and then take time off.
After those two recovery weeks, if you wanted, you could even take a week off then. A week of rest won't blow your season, but a taper plus time off can set you back.
Hope this helps!
Ryan@ICoachSwimming.com
www.ICoachSwimming.com
We're trying to get 400 unique visitors for the month of May!
