How to Embrace Off-Season Training

So, you’ve just completed your target race and smashed it! You’re feeling great and itching to sign up to another race after your big result as you know you are getting better at life. However, after speaking with your coach, you realise that you’re now officially in the off-season. Boo.
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Your mind fills with dread. “What about all that fitness I’ll lose?! How am I going to improve my race times if I take time off?”
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But Coach Rob made it pretty clear, off-season needs to happen.

Why?
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An endurance training off-season allows your body adequate recovery time while keeping you mentally fresh.  

The best part? As amateurs, we don’t need an off-season like the pros do. After all, we weren’t training 40 hours per week. We can play it smart and have f-u-n.

Here are my top 3 ways to “attack” your endurance training off-season.
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1. Train differently
The 12 week build-up to your main event can get very samey, but when it comes to achieving your training goals, nothing is more specific than specificity. However, one thing that kills training in the long run is monotony. Que the off-season, where you have the opportunity to shake things up. Change the time of day you train, or try a new session structure that was previously off the cards. Dust off the mountain bike or take a long run on the trails while leaving your watch behind. Now is the time to reap your session’s benefits without worrying about the specificity required for a race. A trail run can still be aerobic and an effortful endurance cycle awaits while you get lost in a Wadi.

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2. Say yes to more
Being successful on race day means saying no to a lot of things in the months prior. Tandem workout outs, social events and spontaneous getaways with friends are usually a no-go, but off-season is the perfect time to say yes! If endurance is your passion, then a lot of your invites will involve some form of adventure, which is great for both the mind and the body.

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3. Start to address training weaknesses
If your coach has planned 3 development sessions per week during your off-season endurance training, then this is your chance to work on components that were missing from last year’s armoury. Think strength specifics and form work.

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With nothing big in the diary, it allows you the chance to build up the components you previously pressed pause on because they were too impactful on your main sessions. By working on those weaknesses, you start your next build phase in a better place. You’ve done your strength homework, and those dreaded DOMS won’t be such a factor.
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In summary, don’t be scared of your off-season! It’s simply training without so much pressure or specificity.

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It’s FUN. Get this right and you'll be more ready than ever for your next race.

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FUN  - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Work Hard