Hard to believe that in just over 6 weeks, I'll be racing again. With already 16 weeks behind me, my off-season is almost done. I'm a firm believer in off-season training. I used to think that winter is time to rest, or at most simply maintain what I gain in summer. However, since training with coach SZ, I see it differently. This is the time to forge ahead and lay down a solid foundation for the upcoming race season. This is the time to build strength and get strong. This is the time to put in the volumn training. It is boring hard work but I truly enjoy the monotony of it. I am doing my share of homework now so that I have what it takes to train at higher intensity comes summer.
Of course I look forward to the race in Tampa. But the truth is, I don't expect to have my outdoor legs just yet. What I really look forward to is our team training camp after the race weekend. Coach SZ gave me some pointers on how to make the most of my time there.
The worst that one can do is coming to the camp without enough prior training and totally overdo it in terms of volume and intensity in just a few days. You essentially set yourself up to tank after a few early season races. During the camp, I should pay close attention to do the right amount of work and not too much. I take my waking heartrate every morning so that is one of the few useful measures to gauge how hard I'm working. I expect to train hard but it is equally important that I rest and fuel adequately. If there are two training sessions in a day, taking a nap in between may not be a bad idea. My muscles will likely get sore during this transition to outdoor training. During the evening, ice and elevate the legs is a good strategy to speed up recovery. Last but not least, eat!
6 weeks and the excitement begins.
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