My top tips for staying fresh & focussed for an entire CX season
My top tips for staying fresh & focussed for an entire CX season
Every so often take time to step away from racing & focus on training. This is key for your fitness, too much intensity from too many races will see you loose form, not what you want come December. I’d aim for at least 2 solid 10 day blocks of endurance training during a typical season. This is for consistency.
Pay attention to rest & recovery. This is just as important as the training. If you get the recovery part right your not only able to find form and adapt to your sessions, your also able to make them hard sessions really count.
Make sleep a priority - SLEEP is crucial for training adaption = (power nap !).
Make the hard sessions count, stick to your training zones and follow the plan. If you have a hard session such as V02 max intervals and the plan says z1 recovery between blocks, stick to it. If you don’t recover efficiently between those blocks you won’t be able to empty the tank when it really counts and the whole session then becomes a waste of time.
Know that feeling tired is normal. If your pushing your body day in day out it’s ok to feel sore and tired. Of course you should feel fresh at points but accept that more often than not your going to feel a bit knackered! Listen to your body and speak with your coach lots on this.
FTP - but not as you know it FOLLOW THE PLAN! If you have a coach, know every session they give you is in an order. Hard days, easy days, overload blocks, rest periods, tapers, everything is ALWAYS for a reason.
Feedback! Feedback! Feedback! Your coach needs to know how your feeling during and after sessions to make sure your adapting to the work they are setting. A coach helps encourage & motivate you, sometimes all that’s needed is a a few words to keep your mental game where it needs to be in those hard sessions/races.
Fuel efficiently Make time for food both during and around your training sessions. If your not giving your body what it needs, when it needs it, your putting more stress on to your training load which can add to a weakened immune system and overall lack of energy.
Simple :)
