Does the "Off season" terrify anyone else? (Page 2)

well I have been so unstructured and kind of a slacker this season that there really is not an off season
Have a HIM in November and then I start training for Boston

off season?

Like Matt, I'm looking forward to letting my tired old body heal up for a few weeks, then back at whenever that is.  I'll be doing a bunch of low/no impact, low intensity stuff to keep everything moving, but also have a couple of weeks thrown in where I'm doing NOTHING.

"Terrify" is a bit melodramatic don't ya think?

Try to keepa a balance in you life grassahoppa.....

My "A" race was a week ago. I always take a full week off with no S/B/R. I don't think I need it as much physically as I do mentally. I find that after a week of no exercise and pretty much eating whatever I want, I'm ready to get back into training. I keep it pretty unstructured for another week or so and just do what I feel like doing. Once I get past that stage I plan out my season for the coming year. Once that "A" race is selected and signed up for I'm ready to get back to a structured training plan and start building again.

I just finished my A race a few weeks back and have run into the dreaded "blues". Sort of weird since I didn't expect to feel that way.

That said I look forward to my offseason since I work a bit more on weights and, within the 3 diciplines, speed. I love the shorter interval stuff though it's amazing how much it can tax you....if even for only 45 minutes. Definitely keep up the swimming since this year is the most I've ever done. And would like to get a Computrainer, but it's not in the budget so maybe just join a class or two.

Regardless, my body will get a chance to heal up a bit and it is nice not knowing I have to do 2-a-days often.

Maybe the first thing you do to get training going again should be completely different. Go to a climbing wall, do a zumba calss. Something way out of the ordinary sets you have been putting in. Just to freshen things up?

or once you have had a good chunk of rest decide that training starts with fixing something. So only go and do running form sessions or do some max cadance measurments on your bike. They might not challange your fitness much but may give you some data to help design a plan for next year.

Or have some fun going shopping in end of year sales for new kit!




Plenty of fun winter events coming up. Ever done a polar bear plunge or a winter HM?

Edited by badmo77a 2013-09-19 8:16 AM

i'm actually looking forward to it.  i'll get to put in some good quality training without worry too much about my training stress affecting any upcoming races.  pool and bike are going to be my focus, just going to run the way i am now, although with the trainer rides i should have more time for a little more run volume.  will probably trade my weekend long rides for mountain biking, which should be fun too.

The off-season should be embraced. I always recommend to take 10-17 days completely off from training. I do lots of hiking, walking, watching football or really any other activities other then SBR. It is important to rest the body and mind before starting a new season. Many times athletes make the mistake of restarting too early, or too late, and bury themselves early or loose lots of fitness.

Once getting back into training I usually do another 2 weeks light training unstructured. This is wear I leave the GPS and all metrics at home. Break out the roadie or mountain bike, run trails (less impact), swim easy. Times will slow a bit, power numbers might decrease some but that is normal. During this time I find out my motivations and work on goals for the upcoming year.

Personally my coach wants me to do many small running races (5k.10k's) to work on my top end speed. But really its all for fun instead of competition. I am usually back into full focus right after the holidays.

I also do lots of cross training in the winter: XC skiing, snowshoeing, resistance training, etc.

Have a plan, stick to it, and attack it. But enjoy down time and get other projects in life taken care of.