Train hard, recover harder
As an amateur cyclist with a full time job, as the majority of us are, we are not likely to have covered anywhere near the training distance or hours that the pro riders have this year. However, that doesn't make it any less important for us to embrace that natural break at the end of the racing season. You could say it's more important for the amateur athlete as there is likely to be less opportunity for rest and recuperation whilst juggling the demands of work, family life and training.Scheduling an end of season break and some quality downtime to relax and refocus, to re-charge the batteries both physiologically and psychologically is key. As we've mentioned before it's an opportunity to take stock and make a plan for the forthcoming season but most importantly it's about giving your body and mind a break.
The term 'end-of-season break' and its associated focus will look different for each of us. I noticed that those who ended their racing season early, for whatever reason, or whose season barely got going, were very quick to start planning for next year.
"What are you going to target next year?" "I'm going to ride this event/qualifier..." "I'm going to ride X time for X distance at X event..." "I'm going to smash my 10/25/50 TT PB" were all statements tripping off tongues akin to choosing a dessert off a menu (it is the off season after all!!). This made me take a step back and reflect as although, naturally, I had given the 2018 season some passing thought (it's only natural to come away from a race or a training session having analysed things you could/should have done better), I hadn't put those main targets in place or set any stretch goals, or even any serious goals. I started to question my commitment. Was my lack of planning, or more specifically, my lack of a desire to plan a sign that I was lacking motivation and enthusiasm - that inner drive that enables you to give your best?
After much soul-searching, I believe that I just needed a little more time to mentally recover from this year. I came across a great quote from Michelangelo Buonarroti that summed this up for me
"If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all".
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There's nothing wrong with some downtime after the relentless pursuit of success. I'm viewing my end-of-season break as not just the physical ten days that I had off the bike but that time since, which has been fairly liberating in terms of 'just riding' without that constant observation of power/heart rate, that minutei of detail for every ride. Don't get me wrong, this is what we thrive off as athletes; seeing those structured sessions and discipline pay off, riding a structured session when everyone else is off for a cafe ride... I've ridden to and from work on a number of occasions, where my diary has allowed, had a couple of longer weekend rides but nothing to write home about. I've been up and out of the door in the dark and cold at 05:30an in order to ride to work and/or squeeze some miles into a busy day so clearly my motivation to ride is just as strong as ever, I've just not honed in on my goals for next year... yet! |
I've decided that when the time is right, I'll think seriously about next season, after all there is plenty of unfinished business where those stripes are concerned, but in the meantime I'm just riding for enjoyment. A tempo session this morning certainly served to remind me that it doesn't take long to de-train but equally that riding 'hard' (yep, I have to admit that tempo felt a little like sweetspot at times) is enjoyable. Perhaps I am addicted to that structure and pushing myself to be the best I can be after all.
We are only human, with our own barometer for coping, when we've pushed it to the absolute limit it is going to take longer to return to 'business as usual'. So don't feel pressured to be going full gas in the relentless pursuit of 2018 goals already; use your down-time wisely as it's impossible to be on top of your game 365 days a year... Taking time to reflect and really dial in your goals will be far more effective than racing (no pun intended) headlong into an ill thought out plan that you then feel tied to.
