It's hard to believe it’s been nearly 12 weeks since i first turned my pedals in the name of competition in 2008. It’s even harder to believe that i have completed nearly half of the races i will enter in this season. And while most racers would be ramping up their training right about now for the approaching months NMBS and regional races, here i sit in the virtual ‘midpoint’ of my 2008 racing calendar doing nothing.
Every year, as a part of my training calendar, i include 2 weeks completely off the bike - one before the start of my first base period, and one subsequent to my first ‘peak’. One might ask, "Why would you throw away fitness with a week of no training?"
Well - I’m of the opinion that you’re only as strong as you are motivated. How many times have physically gifted cyclists fallen off the face of the earth due to mental burnout? The list is a mile long. Moreover, i feel that your training is only as good as your recovery. And after nearly 3 months of hard training and racing, i’ve more than earned the right to give the ‘ol legs a break for a few days.
But perhaps the most important part of any planned rest period is the ability to remove onesself from their daily training routine, reflect on the races completed thus far, re-evaluate annual goals, and most importantly - decide how to achieve them.
For my sake (and yours) i have comprised a short list of my races to date, along with a brief description of how it went down:
Stump Grinder Winter XC
chain suck sucks. climbing in the big ring sucks even more.
Southridge Winter Series #4
pro starts are hard. tacky dirt and fresh singletrack are fun.
Bonelli Park
big motivation and over training = collossal 3rd lap meltdown
Keyesville Classic
long race on buff ‘real’ mountain bike terrain is a kick in the pants.
NMBS #1 Fontana
good legs and loose so-cal descents favor me... burping my rear tire whilst making a sketchy pass on lap 1 does not.
NMBS #2 NOVA
dry heat, 3-day stage races and stomach parasite DON’T mix. did not start.
Sea Otter Classic
long race of attrition with big climbs put me in the top 20 of 70 starters.
Whiskey Off Road (Marathon)
50mi grinder at 6000’ with loooong climbs suited my strengths.
All in all - i would say 2008 has treated me well thus far. No crashes or race-ending mechanicals *knocking on wood*. Only one ‘bonk’ at Bonelli Park, which really was more of a complete system shutdown. Top 20’s at Fontana and Sea Ottter ain’t too shabby.
Here’s to the rest of the season. Cheers!
4 comments:
Roger that, homie. Rest is nice. My week off isn't until after nationals. That's a long way away ;) See you in Park City!
A highly trained endurance athlete can do nothing for about 9 days before there will be any appreciable loss in fitness...
Enjoy your week off.
True, a highly trained endurance athlete CAN do nothing for 9 days and not lose fitness... BUT here is where it gets all Twilight-Zoney: You see, after taking 3 days off the bike you lose the right to call yourself a highly trained endurance athlete. The next 6 days are a rapid deteriorization of the body from "former cyclist" to "F*ckin' Chuck Norris!"
I think physically, Andrew is right but mentally you will lose the sharpness that lets you push yourself to your limit.
Boon=SLOW
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