1. Get the calendar out!

Have a look back at 2016 and pick out the races you completed and in particular the ones you enjoyed and though you might have won or done better in. Pick out a couple and set the first one as your minor goal for 2017. Then pick out your favourite as your major goal for 2017. Make sure the minor goal comes at least 8 week before your major goal. Now your planning for 2017. “Fail to Plan & Plan to Fail”

2. Set out your training

A periodised training prescription is generally 30 weeks from start to goal. Have a read up on this and get to know how to build one or contact us here through our contact form for coaching and advice. Build your program, set your start dates, note your minor goal and set your sights on your major goal.

3. Get your equipment right

Winter bike, winter clothing, foam rollers, recovery drinks, racing bike, race clothing, etc. Its is important to have the correct equipment for the job in hand. There is nothing worse for motivation during December or January than having to ride a race bike in wet cold conditions while dressed in summer kit. The same goes for racing on your winter bike with big heavy winter clothing. Equipment for recovery is also very important. Get a foam roller , learn how to use it and this will help in recovery. If you’ve forgot some of these and you’ve started your 30 week periodised prescription your already behind where you should be. Clean and maintain your equipment as it will last longer!

4. Body Care

Don’t forget to get your niggles and injuries from last year treated and continue to visit your therapist on a monthly basis throughout your prescription in order to maintain balance within the mechanical structures of the body. You masseur/masseuse will also appreciate shaved legs.

5. Strength & Conditioning

Get your self tested and assessed by a strength and conditioning coach who knows your sport. It is important that you address your weakness during the winter months as this will improve your limiters during the racing season and improve overall performance.

6. Nutrition

Get your head out of the biscuit tin! Its time to schedule your food intake and to appropriate food to your daily needs wether it be a rest day or a full on split session day. This is one of the most important elements of your training. One can train hard all day long and every day of the week but you will not get gains in performance if the nutrition is not timed correctly and appropriate to your needs. Remember its not what you like but what you need that counts!

7 Recovery

The best time for sleeping is directly after food which should be eaten directly after one’s training session. If you can’t get that sleep than stay relaxed and off your feet. Nightime sleep also needs to be adequate and going to bed that 30-60 earlier will make all the difference.

8. Infection Control

Get your self a little bottle of hand sanitiser and keep it with you and use often. For instance washing your hands after the bathroom is great but you still have to get out of the bathroom and that means using the door handle which has been used by tons of people who don’t wash! So use your sanitiser when you get out of bathroom. Try keep hands away from eyes and mouth to stop transfer of infections from the hand into the body. Clean remote controls and door handles once a week at home. Use sanitiser after activities like using buttons in lifts, pass machines etc. All this will help drastically reduce the chance of infection.

9. Medical

Get yourself down to your local sport doctor and get checked out before your start. Get your bloods checked to make sure your not deficient in anything. It is also important to get checked again in 2 -3 months into the prescription to make sure nothing has changed. One of the most common problem we see is low iron levels which can lead to fatigue and poor recovery and in extreme cases can cause exhaustion and force you to refrain from training for a number of month.

10. The Most Important!

Get out a pen and paper, “Read this again” and start off on the correct foot, I wouldn’t say right foot as you might be left handed! “Fail to Plan Plan to Fail” Good Luck for 2017 and if you need any assistance do not hesitate to give us a call.

The Athlete Clinic.