Well, i'm defining my workouts for the last 6 weeks of my short course season and am toying with
the idea of implementing Circadian Rhythm Training into my daily workouts, and wanted some feedback
from you guys.
I don't know whether this is already a practice at the elite level - can't find any literature
except what relates to altitude assimilation and jet-lag.
What i'm basing this on is the premise that body rhythms affect physiological function such as
resting heart rate, metabolic rate, respiratory rate, cognitive function etc. Those are all factors
that will play into recovery and preparation for the next day in a multi-day competition. I'm
looking to have the swimmers select two events from each day of the meet and working backwards, set
a schedule that cycles through those events on a daily basis starting now up until the meet, (day-
specific time trials, broken work, speed work etc for the last 30 minutes of practice. Doubles will
work as prelim-final emulation).
Any thoughts about this? my own belief is that it can't hurt them, and it may actually be possible
to train the body rhythm to account for specific recovery, just as it is to train sleep patterns,
eating patterns, etc.
Anyway, i know this'll sink like a brick, but if any of you have any knowledge of prior use of this,
or any opinions, i'd like to hear it.
Steve