By Andy Newell
Our post from April 1st (Training year Review: By the numbers) outlines in detail some training data that will help you zero in on specific training goals for the new season. Setting goals for a new season can focus on specific hourly targets and intensity session objectives but they can also go well beyond that.
At the top level, races are often won on the margin. At some point everyone is training hard. The difference in results is often less a function of who has trained more hours and more dependent on the daily details that help athletes find their edge. One summer a specific goal of mine was to gain general strength. In an effort to do so I made it a goal to always keep a bag of beef jerky in my car to make sure I was getting enough quality protein in my diet. I’m not entirely sure it worked but it was a unique way to keep me focused on the task at hand.
Finding your edge is a fun way to identify specific areas where you can improve performance beyond your basic training targets. The most common areas athletes can search for these process-based ‘edge’ goals are in these categories:
- Nutrition
- Recovery
- Mental training (focus or relaxation)
These might seem like very basic categories, but they lay a foundation to ensure we get the most out of our daily training. Training more and training harder can only take us so far unless we back it up with substantial process-based daily changes. The fuel behind the fire.
Spend some time this week brainstorming in detail some of the ways you can back up your training goals with substance. (see setting process goals)
Here is some food for through:
