Off-Season - Triathlon Week

11-10-2004, 11:58 AM

Something I struggle with ... during the off-season what exactly to do? I
know just to refresh my mental batteries I need to take some time off (but
how much). But I've read other places about not losing my fitness (thus not
having to spend part of my season getting a good base fitness level). What
do others do? Do you reduce the volume of training and intensity? Neither,
both?

Just looking for what others do.

BBB

11-10-2004, 02:40 PM

Billy Boone said:

> Something I struggle with ... during the off-season what exactly to do? I
> know just to refresh my mental batteries I need to take some time off

Do professional athletes need to take time off "to refresh their mental
batteries?" Maybe they do, I don't know - I'm right down the other end of
the scale - but maybe they just keep training. If you did that, you wouldn't
have to break your winter routine to start training again, and think of the
head start you'd have next season. I pretty well do as much training in
winter as I do in summer (which, admittedly is only 5-7 hrs./week).

Winter in Sydney isn't too bad, though - a _cold_ morning is 6 or 7 degrees
C and the rainfall is actually a little less than summer. I don't know what
my winter training would look like in, say, Manchester where I was born.

Just my thoughts,
Steve = : ^ )

> (but
> how much). But I've read other places about not losing my fitness (thus not
> having to spend part of my season getting a good base fitness level). What
> do others do? Do you reduce the volume of training and intensity? Neither,
> both?
>
> Just looking for what others do.
>
> BBB
>
>

11-11-2004, 10:44 AM

> Just looking for what others do.
I take no time off, just adapt to the weather and my school/work
schedule. My cycling coach used to tell us that it takes two days of
training to recover from one day off. Or maybe it was one for two?
either way I stay busy all year through.

Training is part of my life, not something I take a break from. Long
before I realized it, my wife learned that if I take time off I feel
like a slug and get grumpy. When I start acting like a prick she'll say
"Eric you need a bike ride." If I'm especially pricky she'll say, "Eric,
you go on a long bike ride."
Eric

11-11-2004, 05:27 PM

Eric <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<byNkd.7$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>...
> > Just looking for what others do.
> I take no time off, just adapt to the weather and my school/work
> schedule. My cycling coach used to tell us that it takes two days of
> training to recover from one day off. Or maybe it was one for two?
> either way I stay busy all year through.
>
> Training is part of my life, not something I take a break from. Long
> before I realized it, my wife learned that if I take time off I feel
> like a slug and get grumpy. When I start acting like a prick she'll say
> "Eric you need a bike ride." If I'm especially pricky she'll say, "Eric,
> you go on a long bike ride."
> Eric

That'll change when you have kids. You'll both be "pricky" all the
time and there won't be any opportunity for training.... At first.
(Sorry, personal rant.)

Now, to be more germane to the topic at hand, I am increasing my
indoor activities since my outdoor fun has been put on hold. I have
increased my weight training - but keeping low weights and high reps.
For example, bench press with an empty long bar (~45 lbs) and 100
reps. And the pool at my gym is indoors. The treadmills have preset
5K, 10K, etc. options that automatically adjust the incline up and
down to simulate hills. And taking a "spinning" stationary bike class
twice a week. Indoor activities are a lot easier than, say, road
running or actual cycling, but I can still get a good workout in. I
have no doubt that when spring comes, I will have some catching up to
do - but not as much as last year when I really took it easy and paid
for it almost this whole season.

Myo

11-12-2004, 08:13 AM

....add a vigorous yoga class (Bikram, 'power yoga', etc.) to your winter
indoor routine if you're not already doing so... It's a great way to stretch
and balance your body (and mind)...

"Myo Jorn" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:653e52db.0411111627.633ab51a@posting.google.c om...
> Eric <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:<byNkd.7$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>...
>> > Just looking for what others do.
>> I take no time off, just adapt to the weather and my school/work
>> schedule. My cycling coach used to tell us that it takes two days of
>> training to recover from one day off. Or maybe it was one for two?
>> either way I stay busy all year through.
>>
>> Training is part of my life, not something I take a break from. Long
>> before I realized it, my wife learned that if I take time off I feel
>> like a slug and get grumpy. When I start acting like a prick she'll say
>> "Eric you need a bike ride." If I'm especially pricky she'll say, "Eric,
>> you go on a long bike ride."
>> Eric
>
> That'll change when you have kids. You'll both be "pricky" all the
> time and there won't be any opportunity for training.... At first.
> (Sorry, personal rant.)
>
> Now, to be more germane to the topic at hand, I am increasing my
> indoor activities since my outdoor fun has been put on hold. I have
> increased my weight training - but keeping low weights and high reps.
> For example, bench press with an empty long bar (~45 lbs) and 100
> reps. And the pool at my gym is indoors. The treadmills have preset
> 5K, 10K, etc. options that automatically adjust the incline up and
> down to simulate hills. And taking a "spinning" stationary bike class
> twice a week. Indoor activities are a lot easier than, say, road
> running or actual cycling, but I can still get a good workout in. I
> have no doubt that when spring comes, I will have some catching up to
> do - but not as much as last year when I really took it easy and paid
> for it almost this whole season.
>
> Myo