ZENDURANCENOW COACHING
  • Home
  • Meet The Coaches
  • New Athletes Start Here
  • ZenduranceNow Gear
  • Podcast

12/3/2020

Why Train Now, When 2021 is up in the Air?

Read Now
 
Coach Sam's Corner. . .

Why Train Now, When 2021 is up in the Air?  
Endurance Development is a Multi-Year Investment 
 
December 2020 - Month nine of our new reality…  what a crazy year!  And can you feel it in your shoulders?  Are they up around your ears?  I’ve ended up spending way more time at home, with my wife, 20-something daughter, dog, cats, than I think I ever have in my life!  Some days are definitely better than others, but it has been hard.  There’s a reason the phrase ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder” was coined.  But that is just applying to friends this year.  
 
So you get the double-whammy of stress: a little toooo much time with family, and little to no time with friends, training buddies, pace lines and swimming pool banter.  I think those of us in endurance sports need not only the exercise, but we need time with our “tribe”.  Other crazies willing to hit the pool at 5AM in the dead of winter.  A bike ride with the crew, after the frost melts (although thank goodness for Zwift or Peloton).
 
So why continue to train now?
 
Well near term – stress management.  A swim at the pool or run OUTSIDE gets you out of the house, IN A GOOD WAY – not lurking around the supermarket trying to avoid other shoppers.  This is obvious, but so important.  
 
But why work with a training plan??
 
Well to keep those physiological adaptations happening.  When we head out without a plan for a workout, we often pile up too many “grey zone” days and weeks.  So you are either not recovering enough, or many times you are (swimming, biking) running someone else’s pace.  A plan maximizes your physical adaptation.
 
But next year we don’t know what’s going to happen?
 
100%.  We don’t.  But we all need a little optimism.  I don’t know about you, but as an athlete, I am always thinking about the possibilities.  The second half of 2021 looks like things will gradually relax.  So keep training smart.  Think about goals and/or races for 2021.  And make contingency plans if the race is cancelled.  A couple of my friends did a full IM late spring this year after St George IM was cancelled.  They wanted to use and test their fitness.  It doesn’t have to be that extreme – maybe run a half marathon with a couple buddies and test your lactate threshold endurance.  
 
But stay positive.  Have a plan.  Keep training.  And be safe.
-Coach Sam

Share


Comments are closed.
Details

    Archives

    December 2020
    June 2018
    June 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    March 2015
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    February 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    October 2010
    March 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009

    Categories

    All
    Alcoholism
    Athletes
    Crossfit Endurance
    Drugs
    Endurance
    Nutrition
    Spirituality
    Triathlon
    Ultrarunning
    Woman
    Yoga

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Meet The Coaches
  • New Athletes Start Here
  • ZenduranceNow Gear
  • Podcast