Taper. Every swimmer's best friend and worst enemy. You spend all season working in overdrive - swimming 6,000 yards per practice, going doubles, and hardly getting a moment's rest at the wall. But still, you reap the benefits (mostly at the dinner table) when you get to eat literally anything and everything you want without gaining an ounce.
But once taper settles in, you stop everything: yardage cuts down, one practice per day becomes the norm, and your coach actually gives you some rest time on the wall.
Here are 25 thoughts every swimmer has once taper commences:
1. Do I have to watch what I eat now?
2. Yeah... I definitely need to watch what I eat
3. Sleeping in feels SO GOOD
4. Did that set feel like a taper set to you?
5. I'm tired of sprinting
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6. Hey, maybe the first half of the season wasn't so bad after all!
7. Maybe I'll swim again next year.
8. I actually really like swimming
9. I have so much energy!
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10. But now I can't fall asleep as fast
11. I think I'll take the elevator
12. We're only swimming half our normal yardage, but I'm still SO HUNGRY!
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13. I think I'm gaining weight
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14. I probably shouldn't eat dessert until after championships
15. I hate trying to eat healthy
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16. My arms are sore
17. Why are my arms sore?
18. We get to work on dives? For real?
19. I have so much time to do things other than eat, nap, and swim!
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20. I wish we could taper all season and still get faster
21. (If you're a girl) can I shave my legs now?
22. Why are the short sets so hard?
23. Taper is why I swim
24. And it will SO be worth it at champs!
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