MTB training - how do you?

[Canaris]

MArtelpyp, I have been accused, probably unfairly, of being non-competitive,so I will now write, type a longer explination to my rather blunt (but accurate advice).

Firstly, as xwagon has stated on an earlier posting, determine why you are cycling.  (Use Maslow's heirarchy of needs if you must).  If you have self actualised on the bicycle, you have transended the  ego need to prove yourself, and need not read further.

 

If you realise that you have a strong need for recognisition, security ext and racing will statisfy that need then lets go to the next step.

 

In order to race faster you need to be able to consistently ride faster.  THE human body is good at adapting to increased work loads.  But these loads need to be gradually increased to prevent overload.  THe body needs time to recver after every "load session".  THe FIRST marathon training programme explains this well.  Or read Noakes Lore of Running for this dynamic.  A Small book "Duathlon" by a German author also explains it well.  So to more from your present state to race snake is going to be a gradual process that requires a gradual increase in training load.

 

Now the effect of food, drink and smoking is well documented, so quick the last two and change the first one.  Stop eating large steaks, fatty food, snacks ext.  If you are married, your wife will be overjoyed when you tell her that BOTH of you are going to eat healthier.  Similarly your children will LOVE you for stopping all visits to the fast food joints and fancy restuarants.

 

Now the last point which is the most controvertial point of my advice.  YOu only have 24 hours a day.  (At least) Eight of which you should be sleeping in order to ecover from your training load, and eight of which you will be at work (as you are not yet a professional cyclists).  THat leaves eight hours of your day, of which your familiy and friends (and the traffic) want their share.  Now Norrie Williams in his book the guide to distance running, indicates that in order to training conisistently you will have to steal time from your employer and "family and friends" to train.  This means the following: 

Dump your non-cycling friends, for cycling friends (so that you can train and socialise at the same time)

Commute (steal training time from traffic)

Train at lunch times (extended)

quit other activities (other sport, church, girl guides, surfing the web for porn) to make time for cycling.

Re-negotiate your marriage contract to allow more time for cycling.  (now your wife will LOVE you too)

And if all else fails put those pestly kids (who demand so much of your time) up for adoption.

 

So my point is the following:  THe reason you are not in the top five is the because your lifestyle does not permit it.  Small changes in your life style and you can improve.  It is not simply a case of getting a coach and training some more.

 

If you want to race like Lance you must LIVE like Lance.

[PPWTF]

"If you want to race like Lance you must LIVE like Lance."

 

Kona Fan, that's exactly what i was trying to say in the serveral hundred words I wrote, except you managed it in 12....... Nicely done.

 

I will add that the most under rated tool in training is...... the mid day nap!  Shock horror sleep really does make you fitter

[SwissVan]

 

Kona - he's talking about a top 5 in age cat, not top 5 in the world.

 

Many people make the mistake of assuming you have to spend all your spare time training, the secret is in the type of training not quantity of training.

 

 

[AndreZA]

"If you want to race like Lance you must LIVE like Lance."

 

WHAT? loose a nut, don't come right with Cheryl Crow and dope for 7 years. No thank you.

 

 

[Canaris]

Some interesting factoid,

 

Spassky:  Chess is like life

Fischer:  Chess is life

Kasparov:  Life imitates Chess

 

No prizes for guessing the best player of the three.

[SwissVan]

Some interesting factoid' date='

 

Spassky:  Chess is like life

Fischer:  Chess is life

Kasparov:  Life imitates Chess

 

No prizes for guessing the best player of the three.

[/quote']

 

Omigosh Sorri - I was talking about mountain biking, didn't realise I hit the Chess thread button...

 

 

[Canaris]

Some interesting factoid' date='

 

Spassky:  Chess is like life

Fischer:  Chess is life

Kasparov:  Life imitates Chess

 

No prizes for guessing the best player of the three.

[/quote']

 

Omigosh Sorri - I was talking about mountain biking, didn't realise I hit the Chess thread button...

 

 

 

just an illustration on what "focus" can do to you:

 

Fischer, in his own way, went mad, and took on the USA by playing in a "banned country" against Spassky.  HE died this year a lonely, dejected man in Iceland.

Spassky, married afrench woman and fled to France (also became anti-autharitarian, he is now a monarchist)

Kasparov retired from chess, and has entered politics to fight Putin in Russia.

 

So this is also a political thread

[SwissVan]

 

All 3 classic symptoms of overtraining

 

 

[Canaris]

unbalanced lives

[Daft Vader]

Did I mention that I think all race snakes are egotists?

[SwissVan]

Did I mention that I think all race snakes are egotists?

 

Luckily I never qualified as a race snake, otherwise I'd have to come over there and stuff some Toblerone down your gullet.

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Whats up you been "tracked" once to many times?

 

 

[Daft Vader]

No I can hold my own when I want to.  I just laugh at many of these clowns who think they are Lance friggen Armstrong when they are actually at best mediocre.  There is one particular idiot who trains along the Spruit and never acknowledges a greeting and never gives way to anyone.  Friggen prude.  It was very funny when he rode past us last week as we were sessioning the jumps, when he can past (dead slow) we greeted, he ignored us.  Then he nearly cased it on a flat after which I chirped "nice skills".

 

Many of my friends are race snakes.  Some even wear green and yellow stripes on their kit.  But they always want to compete and cannot see beyond that.  They have even lost friendships during the Epic because one was not as fit or inclined to try and finish in the top 50 than the other.   

[SwissVan]

 

Hmmmm.... Well O Daft one..... The Universe is infinitely large with lots of different beings, the ALL word should be used with less enthusiasm.

 

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[nochain]

SwissVan, <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Are you saying that some people out there just might be Intelligent enough to balance there lives and be good at he's Job and he's sport and still have time for he's family??

Noooooo that can't be, that?s impossible!!All competitive people must be dumb as hell and have no idea of what is important in life and how to prioritize.

 

 

[SwissVan]

SwissVan, <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Are you saying that some people out there just might be Intelligent enough to balance there lives and be good at he's Job and he's sport and still have time for he's family??

Noooooo that can't be, that?s impossible!!All competitive people must be dumb as hell and have no idea of what is important in life and how to prioritize.

 [/quote']

 

Eish No Chain you must have good eyes to type so fine...

 

You forgot to add that all competitive people are rude, unfriendly and dont have many friends

 

 

[Canaris]

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