My off season started earlier than many of my cycling friends’ off season. While there is still a few week of cyclocross left in the season, I decided to take a break earlier than I have in the past. I’m not racing into December (last race was mid-November), but I’m still training. Part of the off season is to take a break from your sport, in my case cycling. You don’t want to get burned out by being hardcore for 12 months of the year. You take a break because you need a break. In my case I continue to train, but I’m training much different than I have all season and different than I have in the past. I’ve incorporated running into my off season training. I’ve done this for a few different seasons:
- to take a break from cycling
- to “train” my legs for running (helps cyclocross too)
- I actually feel good after a run
- planning duathlon racing in 2012
As I’ve said in a previous post, I’m starting from scratch with my running. Start off easy and gradually work my way to longer distances and to getting faster. But I also need to make sure that I don’t lose my cycling legs. I’ve done a lot of research on training plans for run, for bike and for winter training…and there is a wealth of information out there. Many of the winter training plans have a common theme to them: go easy…lower intensity…don’t get burned out…incorporate other activities (xc ski, snowshoe, run). So, in addition to winter mountain biking or exercise bike, I’m mixing in treadmill running too. I have put together a training plan that I don’t think will get stale…3 days bike, 3 days run, alternating days. It might seem stale to some people, but for me, I need a structured plan during the winter months. It’s just to easy to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow”.
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