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7924 3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 238 4935 Fax: (718) 238 4936 Mike, prop. |
Often, every day athletes ask each other a bunch of recycled questions, its OK, we are Green
friendly people, recycling is good. What is your pace? What races have you done? What shoes
do you wear? What bike do you ride? Etc. And one of my favorites is "What races are you doing
this season?" This is a key indicator of where someone may be physically and mentally. It also
shows you the conditioning of the athlete too. I just had a young 30 year old guy tell me he is
doing the Boston Marathon. Now without saying it, his answer told me he is a pretty spry young
man. So what is on your plate? Here are some tips to structuring a healthy training program:
1. Use a Map! Look at all your local races, destination points of interest, and race distances
to help you figure out what will be your key events that you want to do and map it out.
Structure your season that there is a healthy, systematical progression of fitness. Use shorter
races and races earlier in the season to help you maximize performance for your peak races. Very
few people use the “Yeah I’m doing this marathon next weekend to really get me into 5k
shape” method. But there many ways to maximize those 5k and 10k races to prepare for a
personal best marathon!
2. Less is More! This is one of those usual quality versus quantity situations. I know people
that race every single weekend, never giving themselves a chance to retool, reboot, and repair.
Sure, we are enthralled and amazed with the amount of physical pressure these athletes
endure. But for the rest of us mortals, we get stronger with quality rest and spacing in
between those extreme workouts. Choose your races wisely. PR’s are set with time and
wisdom, not repetition.
3. Copy Cat! Can’t make it to Lake Placid to train for your Ironman? Find races that have
similar courses to get a feel of what it may be like racing in similar conditions.
4. Stop shaking the Camera! Stay focused; keep your eye on the prize. If the Brooklyn Half
Marathon is the race of the season for you, then don’t blow it by trying to kill the field at the
Harbor Fitness 5k risking injury and physical health. Remain focused all year round to utilize your
races as training and then crush your record at that goal race.
5. Brown Bag your Training: Training for any kind of race can be tricky. How do you fit in
the all miles and dedicated training hours needed to maximize your performance. I can not tell
you how many athletes tell me how busy they are at work and work through their lunch break,
skip a meal or coffee break, and stay late while their boss is getting the bail out and you just got
shafted out of your lunch hour. All interfering with your training. I used to work near the Red
Hook Pool a few years ago. And 3 days a week I would pack a turkey sandwich and my
swimming trunks. Because on my lunch hour, I would drive to the pool, change like Batman,
swim like Spitz, and eat my sandwich like Homer Simpson with enough time to spare. Even if
you only get 30 minutes on a treadmill at work, that is an extra 30 minutes that you would have
wasted at your desk doing paperwork on your lunch hour. Plus I will bet you feel great
afterwards.
6. It is everyone’s calendar not just yours. Make sure everyone in your life is on board with
your racing calendar. Maybe booking a race on your brother’s wedding day may not take
precedence. Keeping your family in the loop, will keep your family there throughout your
training and on race day. You may need your own pit crew, training coach, your 12 year old
niece to be that cheerleader you just can’t let down. This morning I was able to get up and get
on my stationary bike trainer before the family woke up. I came up sweaty, maybe stinky too,
but Joseph thought it was awesome that I was training. I know, I’m brain washing him.
These are just some simple steps with staying on track with your race season, there are
hundreds more, email me your favorite tips and I’ll share them with others.
friendly people, recycling is good. What is your pace? What races have you done? What shoes
do you wear? What bike do you ride? Etc. And one of my favorites is "What races are you doing
this season?" This is a key indicator of where someone may be physically and mentally. It also
shows you the conditioning of the athlete too. I just had a young 30 year old guy tell me he is
doing the Boston Marathon. Now without saying it, his answer told me he is a pretty spry young
man. So what is on your plate? Here are some tips to structuring a healthy training program:
1. Use a Map! Look at all your local races, destination points of interest, and race distances
to help you figure out what will be your key events that you want to do and map it out.
Structure your season that there is a healthy, systematical progression of fitness. Use shorter
races and races earlier in the season to help you maximize performance for your peak races. Very
few people use the “Yeah I’m doing this marathon next weekend to really get me into 5k
shape” method. But there many ways to maximize those 5k and 10k races to prepare for a
personal best marathon!
2. Less is More! This is one of those usual quality versus quantity situations. I know people
that race every single weekend, never giving themselves a chance to retool, reboot, and repair.
Sure, we are enthralled and amazed with the amount of physical pressure these athletes
endure. But for the rest of us mortals, we get stronger with quality rest and spacing in
between those extreme workouts. Choose your races wisely. PR’s are set with time and
wisdom, not repetition.
3. Copy Cat! Can’t make it to Lake Placid to train for your Ironman? Find races that have
similar courses to get a feel of what it may be like racing in similar conditions.
4. Stop shaking the Camera! Stay focused; keep your eye on the prize. If the Brooklyn Half
Marathon is the race of the season for you, then don’t blow it by trying to kill the field at the
Harbor Fitness 5k risking injury and physical health. Remain focused all year round to utilize your
races as training and then crush your record at that goal race.
5. Brown Bag your Training: Training for any kind of race can be tricky. How do you fit in
the all miles and dedicated training hours needed to maximize your performance. I can not tell
you how many athletes tell me how busy they are at work and work through their lunch break,
skip a meal or coffee break, and stay late while their boss is getting the bail out and you just got
shafted out of your lunch hour. All interfering with your training. I used to work near the Red
Hook Pool a few years ago. And 3 days a week I would pack a turkey sandwich and my
swimming trunks. Because on my lunch hour, I would drive to the pool, change like Batman,
swim like Spitz, and eat my sandwich like Homer Simpson with enough time to spare. Even if
you only get 30 minutes on a treadmill at work, that is an extra 30 minutes that you would have
wasted at your desk doing paperwork on your lunch hour. Plus I will bet you feel great
afterwards.
6. It is everyone’s calendar not just yours. Make sure everyone in your life is on board with
your racing calendar. Maybe booking a race on your brother’s wedding day may not take
precedence. Keeping your family in the loop, will keep your family there throughout your
training and on race day. You may need your own pit crew, training coach, your 12 year old
niece to be that cheerleader you just can’t let down. This morning I was able to get up and get
on my stationary bike trainer before the family woke up. I came up sweaty, maybe stinky too,
but Joseph thought it was awesome that I was training. I know, I’m brain washing him.
These are just some simple steps with staying on track with your race season, there are
hundreds more, email me your favorite tips and I’ll share them with others.
Tips for planning and sticking to a successful race season. |
| 7924 3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 238 4935 Fax: (718) 238 4936 Store Hours Monday-Friday 11A.M - 7P.M Saturday- 10A.M - 6P.M Sunday- 11A.M - 5P.M |
