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Robert asks:
I just took a look at some of your training plans for vets. One
serious recommendation is that you change the weeks to run from
mon-sun (rather than the current sun-sat).
Experience has shown me (and conversations with other strong athletes
confirms) that a sun-sat schedule can be v. misleading in terms of
effort expended, often leading to overtraining. It becomes all too
easy to do hard/hard back to back (sat and sun), particularly when you
begin racing. Furthermore, the "natural periodization" that
accompanies so much cycling training should really run towards Sunday
as that is the day on which most races take place.
The Coach responds:
- You can just change the day headings as you like as start from wherever you like.
The elite program is my own and therefore suits my work and other commitments.
- The first macro is a strength building one at steady aerobic output (75 per cent of max).
Every second day is tougher with relatively easy days in between.
A 70 km ride at E1 on a Saturday and 40 minutes on the Ergo doing cadence work is relatively
easy, while the next day 180kms at E1 over rolling hills is pretty tough (given my hills).
Then Monday is my rest day (bar weights and 20 minutes up to E1 in the morning on the Ergo bike).
- The plan is a first macro (14 weeks or so before serious racing begins). Any racing is on top of the plan
and is actually discouraged. This phase should really not concentrate on any speed. That comes next.
- The natural periodisation will lead us to races as the racing season starts. First of all the long Sunday
rides will be replaced by long developmental early season races (130 -180 kms), with the program adjusting
for weekend racing by the time we are getting serious. You cannot race hard all season.
- An individual has to modify the programs to suit their own racing schedule. The program is my own and
will get me racing well given my constraints.
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