May 11
4
The training environment- critical for long term success
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- How you set up your training environment is critical for long term success and enjoying your sport.
- Ask yourself the following questions………..
Do I drive for miles just to get to training?
Am I always tired or late to training?
Do I get to train in the best part of the day?
Am I getting social stimulation ?
Am I getting variety?
Am I getting objective comparison and motivation?
Am I able to do a long session on my own?
Do I cope with travelling when on holidays or work routine?
Do I use my commuting time for training
- If the answer is different than what you would like the answer often lies in planning
- Its amazing how many athletes train for years without having done the homework on the basics
- For example you should have the following as your arsenal……..
-From the front door an accurate 5K,10K and 20K run
-A clear route to a running track or oval and know the exact distance around it
-From the front door a 1hr,2hr,5hr ride loops and a 20K Time Trial circuit
-Know where all the pools are near home and work
-An old bike set up on the windtrainer ready to go
-what your “par” times are for all these routes
- You want to avoid two key traps:
-Being overly dependant on getting to a training group- especially if its a long way away
-Heading out the door from home with no clear goal or no clear route
- The second one is the killer. For example running from home – if you just head out with no purpose its often tempting to cut short or dial down a workout. If you decide you are running the 10K circuit it makes things objective-you can compare times. I try to avoid having routes that provide any shortcuts home
- When you travel- do some homework beforehand- use google and google earth and plot a few routes. I usually try to spot a oval near the hotel and will happilly run loops of that instead of wasting time navigating through unknown streets- unless its worth the investment /im coming back- otherwise I focus on the quality of the workout. Ring the pools locally before you get there
- Training back home- dont make it complicated. Make you routine as easy as possible for the rest of your life. If you can train near home thats extra time back for other activities. If you can combine commuting even better. The majority of successful part time athletes I know have done exactly this. If you are getting up 1hr before training 4 mornings a week its unlikely you’ll sustain things.
- Its important I think to have a mix of solo and group sessions. A bit of social activity is healthy for anyone and helps motivate and pass the training time. Likewise some solo stuff helps you match sessions to your own needs without worrying about others. So don’t make it a one or the other thing-mix it up a bit
- It takes quite a bit of time and planning to measure out courses, find roads and venues. I try to do homework during the offseason for new ideas and then once the season starts focus on “known” routes. This early preparation takes all the hassle out of training and greatly improves the quality and enjoyment of the big training blocks. Do you have contingency plans for sessions if it rains or you sleep in?
- So hows your training environment? Have you done the planning so you can pull on your shoes without hassles and enjoy it? Or is it touch and go just getting there and hit and miss depending on work? A bit of thinking about this aspect of your training will make all the difference
