What a Feeling

Date: Friday, June 15, 2012
Time: 5:45 a.m.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Long Course Meters
10 days to Olympic Trials

300 warmup

3x(3x100 on 2:00
1. 75 swim/25 kick
2. 25 kick/75 swim
3. 25 drill/25 swim

12x50 on 1:00 swim aerobic
6 free (avg. :40), 6 back (avg. :42)

4x100 kick drill on 2:00
50 breast/50 free

300, work on breakouts and turns

4x150 on 2:30 aerobic
odd: back (2:05)
even: free (2:00)

100 easy

25 breast from dive (13.2)

75 easy

Total: 3,300 meters (75 minutes)

I didn't expect to swim so far today. My expectation was to swim at a very leisurely aerobic pace and maybe do some short-burst swimming. I was feeling OK this morning, though my legs did feel like lead. I've been doing housework and maybe running around the house, up and down the stairs for an hour each day Monday and Tuesday is starting to haunt me.

But I did my chores this week so I could use the time-honored "I'm tapering" excuse when given a "Honey Do" list. It doesn't mean my home will look like it belongs on an episode of "Hoarders," but certain things will just have to wait until I return from Omaha.


I have been doing this 10-day taper for a couple of years now, reducing down from 14 days, because it feels like the perfect amount of time to taper from an average of 3,500 meters per workout. I feel the same physical and mental sensations as those who taper for a full two weeks or more, but I think the sensations are more concentrated! In a few days my legs will feel like jelly, and I'll freak out about things not being ready in time for my race. It's normal, but it doesn't make it easier.

I don't really know how my body should feel on the second official day of taper, but so far ... so good!