Training discussion Archives - Page 22 of 26

Combining Group Rides With Your Training Plan (Podcast #3)

One of the biggest questions that I've faced in the past few weeks has been in relation to structured training plans. I've heard the following enough times to realize that it's a huge concern for many cyclists:

What about group rides? Where do those fit into my training plans?

Well, the short answer is that if you know the group dynamic and what fundamentals your plan is focusing on, you can often integrate group rides successfully. For a more detailed description, listen to the podcast below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.9MB)

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Tags: Coaching, podcast, training|

Planning Your Tour of the Battenkill Training (Podcast #2)

If you're thinking about racing Tour of the Battenkill this coming season, you'll need to think about training soon (and registering soon: November 15th!) If you want to do more than just finish (or just suffer, as people overwhelmingly chose in a Facebook poll) then you'll need to train a few specific things.

It won't be enough to go out and do 65-mile rides, you'll need to focus on things like core stability, muscular endurance, cadence range, cadence control and VO2 max repeatability. In this podcast, I discuss why you need those facets of fitness in order to survive this monster.

As always, comments are welcome.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (19.9MB)

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Tags: battenkill, classics, Coaching, podcast, training|

Tour of the Battenkill 2013 Training Plan Now Available

Just a quick announcement that my 2013 Tour of the Battenkill training plan is now live and available. Head on over to my Training Plans page and check it out.

In short, you're getting 18 weeks of structured workouts. 6 weeks of base, 2 rest weeks, 8 build weeks and 2 peak weeks. Take it from someone who's raced there before, on nearly the same route: this race is HARD. You'll need to be in tip top shape very early in the season, and you'll need to be able to stay on your toes for 65 miles.

Go out, hit it hard, and I'll see you on the starting line.

Tags: battenkill, classics, Coaching, racing, training|

Coaching: The Myth of More Miles?

Fall easy miles

[dc]F[/dc]all has hit, il Lombardia is in the books, Paris Tours has come and gone, and cyclocross is in full swing. For those riders who have been training since the dark hours of January, the season has wound down and rides consist of trips to the coffee shop amid the crunch of fallen leaves. If not for a double espresso run, it's time to put feet up on the coffee table, read the gossip (USADA decision anyone?) and recover while starting to plan for next year.

Regarding planning for next season, one of the biggest fallacies that I've run across lately is explained by the post below:

I've been thinking about racing this coming year, but I live in (northern state that gets a lot of snow). I'm worried that I can't get enough miles in during the winter to keep me fit and get me ready for next year. Should I go out during the winter and try to build up my miles in the cold and snow?

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Tags: Coaching, off season, training|

Stress, Training and Real Life

Stop and think for just a minute: how long has your season been? 6 months? 7 months? 8 months? Here in the northeast, we were blessed (or maybe cursed) with a lack of winter, so we've really been riding and training since December of last year. That's a LONG season, especially when you consider that many cyclists are just now gearing up for the impending cyclocross season, which will extend through December in most places. Imagine a periodized training plan with peaks and valleys, builds and tapers, for NEARLY A YEAR!! That's a LONG season, and it's not easy to pull off. In fact, I found that to be the case in recent weeks.

Why do I bring up this topic? Well, today I spent quite a bit of time thinking about it while on a training ride. I had enough time to think through the last few weeks and gained some insight into my training and life.

Maybe you'll gain some insight into your own training and stress as well….

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Tags: Coaching, injury, planning, training|