Three weeks off could spell death for many sports. Practice would not be able to simulate the intensity of competition. Obviously, swimming is not most sports.
"Three weeks is a pretty standard layoff in preparation," Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said. "It gives time to taper and mentally prepare for the conference championships."
Tapering, for those of you not completely familiar with swimming, is the gradual reduction of workouts that swimmers do in preparation for a big meet.
From September through December, the swim team builds its workouts up to 80,000 yards per week or about 45 1/2 miles.
When the team begins to taper, the workout gradually decreases down to 60,000 yards, then to 40,000 yards and finally 30,000, the level the team is at currently.
"During the season, most of the top teams swim the dual meets tired," Urbanchek said. "Since there are only two meets that really count - Big Tens and NCAAs - we only taper for them."
After the conference championships, the Wolverines will build up their training again for two weeks before tapering off again for the NCAAs. This second process will last only a month.
Most sports emphasize mental preparation, such as visualization of what an athlete needs to do to be at his or her best. Swimming is no different. However, the rest of the preparation is a bit different from most sports.
Swimming is set apart by a distinct ritual: the shaving of body hair. Swimmers shave their legs, arms, and some even make their heads more aerodynamic.
"Piersma always shaves off his sweater during this time of year," sophomore Tom Malchow said. "He has to. He's one of the hairiest guys I know."
All of this training should help the Wolverines to make the most of the conference championships as Michigan shoots to regain the Big Ten title they surrendered last year. The conference championships also act as a qualifying meet of sorts.
"We hope to qualify eight to 12 swimmers for the NCAAs next month," Urbanchek said. "We are as healthy as we are going to be, so it should be exciting."