Regardless of the level at which you wish to perform, there is more to training than simply riding your bike, going for a run or working at weights and the super circuit. I am sure many of us have been at races or in the gym and marvelled at how the top athletes just make it all look so easy! We wish we could get it right -
Well you can do this at your own level by taking careful note of the following:
Variety
It really is so important to have a varied routine in your training pattern otherwise it can become like reading the same page of a book over and over again.
Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in a training rut!
Structure
A structured training program is so important, but remember to spice things up! I have noticed that runners involved in weekly time trials tend to record similar times week after week. This is a sign that the athlete is experiencing a plateau. If you enjoy the social side of time trials, set yourself different objectives each week e.g.
• How quickly can you run the last kilometre?
• How fast can you run the first 2 kilometres?
• How quickly can you run the last kilometre?
• Can you pick up the pace in the middle part of the trial?
Many athletes become too focused on their weekly times and reach a point when they simply don’t go any faster. When this happens it really is time to change your objectives for each session. The same principle applies to gym work, avoid the “same old same old” routine and change the pace when on the treadmill or cycling to include surges and slower paces. Don’t be afraid to break out of your comfort zone, the reality is that breakthroughs in performance happen when you break out of the comfort zone!
Balance
It’s important not to treat every day as a race day. It’s necessary to find the balance between quality hard training days and easy training days. Both are critical parts of training and ultimately performance and fitness levels.
Liven up your training!