I am two weeks away from my taper for 1/2 Iron in mid May. I have been lifting in the gym all winter as part of my training. When should I stop lifting? Now?.. at the time I begin taper?.. Never? Need advise. Thanks.
Personally, I would stop during a taper, but thats about it. Now I cant say for sure becasue I dont know you as an athlete but generally speaking, I wouldn’t lift during a taper.
Rest of the season? Sure. as long as its working for you. I personally know of many top pros who lift all year. THen there are others who only do it durring base training. I am one of those base training only kind of guys but my body likes to put on a lot of weight in my chest and arms if I lift too much. I always do core work and plyos and what not, but throwing around the iron only gets limited attention.
If you are a masters athlete, female or have strength as a limiter I would lift all year long in a periodized fashion. This would mean that as your A race(s) approach you have stopped attempting to add strength with heavier lifts that use efforts near failure – and are in a maintenance mode – using high reps and efforts not near failure. I suggest experienced athletes do their last session of strength maintenance about twelve days from race. As long as you are using maintenance efforts (2 sets // 20 reps // light to moderate effort) and have been through a periodization, this type of lift should not require any special recovery. A week earlier would be okay if you are concerned about your legs and need additional rest.
KP