I need training plan feedback.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I posted about this in the training Tuesday thread, but I want some more specific feedback. This may get long, apologies in advance.

Some background. I'm swimming 10 miles on July 30. For those who aren't much into endurance swimming, 6.2 miles is considered to be swimming's marathon. So 10 miles is ultra distance, the equivalent of just under 42 miles.

Further info: I'm working full time this year, normal working hours, 9-5:30. So two-a-days are pretty much out. So I'm thinking that training like a runner may work. Shorter runs during the week, long run every other weekend. I'm about 17 weeks out at this point, so I'm planning a 16-week training cycle.

My thought is to do 4-5 days of masters during the week:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are full workout. Massage Wednesday night, either rest or easy/recovery swim on Thursday, normal workout Friday.

Saturdays will be a little different. I'm think of doing 5k on Saturdays after a non-rest Thursday and increasing distances on Saturdays after a rest Thursday. I'd type it out, but I'll just take a photo and attach it instead. Lazy, party of one:



What are your thoughts?

[sadlebred]

I think it looks reasonable.

[ktzmoh]

Do you need more of a taper than that? It lookalike a good plan , except that I would think you may want an extra week of tapering?

Pretty bad ass BTW

[Deleted]

No advice as I'm not a swimmer but I also want to say you are a total badass. Impressive stuff!

[jamalynn]

My only thought is the same as ktzmoh - taper. Not sure but something to consider. Good luck!

[irene adler]

Damn, lady. I am impressed.

I have nothing constructive to add

[osulori]

Holy badass, Batman! I don't know much about training plans for swimming (okay, I know zero about training plans for swimming) but that looks okay to me. I had the same question as ktzmoh about taper though, do you think you'll be okay with a two week taper?

[mrs.jacinthe]

ktzmoh jamalynn osulori ... I don't know. Last year I did a three week and it felt like too much. But this is a much farther distance so I'm shooting blind here. Lol

[cole]

No feedback but just want to chime in you are so amazing!!

[mrs.jacinthe]

@vtcupcake ... That's a lot of good stuff in there. When I get home tonight, I will put together a plan with a 3-week taper and see what that looks like.

As far as Masters goes, my club is really accommodating of different training needs, so basically I just do what I want. Right now I'm averaging about 4,000 yards per workout. Obviously though, if I need a shorter workout, I can take that. Conversely, I talked to the coach this morning and he's willing to let me do any long swims I need to on Saturday while he coaches the college water polo team. I love these people.

And fwiw, I get massage every Wednesday. I credit them with keeping me swimming despite some shoulder pain, so I'm pretty faithful. Although admittedly, it hurts so bad every time I wonder wth I keep doing this to myself. Lol

[mrs.jacinthe]

ktzmoh jamalynn osulori @vtcupcake

I modified for a three week-ish taper. Does this look better?

[jamalynn]

Yes! Good luck!!!

[sadlebred]

I'm still amazed that you are SWIMMING these distances!!

[mrs.jacinthe]

Mar 30, 2016 22:12:46 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

I'm still amazed that you are SWIMMING these distances!!

Better than running them. I'd die.

[sadlebred]

Mar 30, 2016 22:15:52 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Mar 30, 2016 22:12:46 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

I'm still amazed that you are SWIMMING these distances!!

Better than running them. I'd die.

Right there with you on that one! Runners running these distances amaze me, too! (Disclaimer: I regularly walk a 5K distance in the winter--that's about my limit for X-training.)

[ktzmoh]

dont kill me mrs.jacinthe, but I wonder if you might now have too much taper? I was thinking about putting the 16K swim at the end of week 13.... like maybe 16K swim in week 13, 9k in week 14, then 4k in week 15?

[mrs.jacinthe]

Mar 31, 2016 11:33:57 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

dont kill me mrs.jacinthe, but I wonder if you might now have too much taper? I was thinking about putting the 16K swim at the end of week 13.... like maybe 16K swim in week 13, 9k in week 14, then 4k in week 15?

Lol! I based the new taper off a taper for an ultra plan I found in a book. I figured if I'm going to train like a runner, I should just blatantly use a run plan. You think it's too much? I was thinking the 9k would be a good distance for two weeks out and I wanted to stick with the every other week long swim thing.

[ktzmoh]

Mar 31, 2016 12:54:07 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Mar 31, 2016 11:33:57 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

dont kill me mrs.jacinthe , but I wonder if you might now have too much taper? I was thinking about putting the 16K swim at the end of week 13.... like maybe 16K swim in week 13, 9k in week 14, then 4k in week 15?

Lol! I based the new taper off a taper for an ultra plan I found in a book. I figured if I'm going to train like a runner, I should just blatantly use a run plan. You think it's too much? I was thinking the 9k would be a good distance for two weeks out and I wanted to stick with the every other week long swim thing.

My guess is that ultra runners may like a bigger taper because of the beating their joints take. But swimming recovery may be quicker (is that true? I have no idea). Do you know any ultra swimmers you can ask for advice?

[ktzmoh]

Ok I found this and it makes me rethink my hesitation about a two week taper - maybe that's the right amount?

www.active.com/articles/endurance-swimmers-tips-for-tapering-for-an-open-water-race

"Open-water tapers need not last two or three weeks (the length of a typical pool-swimmers taper). One week is usually plenty of time to feel rested and recovered if you are used to endurance training throughout the season. In fact, an open-water swimmer preparing for a five- to 10-mile race need only pare down the distance and intensity of his workouts maybe three days before the event."