|   reassessing my annual hours - help | sbxcguy
Jan 2, 2003 1:52 PM | | Is it just me or do any of you have trouble meting your planned weekly hours? I mean it's always something...a huge project or deadline at work, I get sick, the wife gets sick,(I take over the childcare and household duties), the holidays, business trips...jeez it never ends.
My situation is probably not unlike some of you: 35yrs sport, high profile job (forcing me to train bewtween 6am-8:30am during the week), child (although no soccer yet thank god!) and healthy marriage that I want to keep healthy.
My problem usually comes when the required volume gets heavy. I really have trouble hitting the 11-12 hour weeks. Sometimes the 10 hour weeks are hard depending on what's going on. My schedule is based on 400 annual hours. I'm also counting my weight lifting hours (currently 3/week) and any x-training (none now)in the weekly and annual figures. Oh, P.S. I did 400 annual as a hedge as I thought 450 would be too much!!!
I'm guessing my choices are as follows:
1) I'm thinking of just "doing my best" at this point. The theory here being as I get closer to the season, the workouts shift to shorter, high intesisty so the weekly requirements drop to 8-10 hour weeks on average. The disadvantage here is mental for the current base training - I constantly feel that I'm not achieving my weekly goals and that really blows.
2) I could reset the annual hours and thus the weekly requirements.
What do you think? I'm just very frustrated. This is my frst year with a structured trainnig plan and wondering if this is common. Last year was just base train throug February. Continue endurance and tempo riding and add intervals 1x week in March and then 2x week in April. It was so easy then! Now if i hit 9.5 hours and I was supposed to do 10.5 or 11 I feel like I'm failing which seems to be about every other week.
Thanks for any advice in advance... |
| I'm in the same boat | mtnbkaz
Jan 3, 2003 7:08 AM | | I say just do your best with your existing schedule. I always have trouble getting in enough base hours. Work has been very busy the last few months which hasn't helped. If you are using a periodized training plan and you adjust your total hours now, you will have very low hours during build & peak phases later. Not training enough in the build phase will be much worse than not training enough in the base phase (especially for Sport class where the races aren't that long). I say just train when you can and enjoy life. We're not pros here and we have other goals in life so just do the best you can and have fun. |
| I hear ya' | shawndoggy
Jan 3, 2003 9:31 AM | | For those of us who don't move to Australia for the winter, and who have families and jobs, I don't see how to put in the big base time that friel et al suggest. Seems like I have WAY more riding time in the summer, since I can get up at 5, get a cup of coffee and be on the bike to see the sunrise. That way I've got 75 miles in by 10:30 without a big family burden. Try doing that this time of year (at least here in Reno where it's cold)! I can do the rollers for an hour a day during the week and some rides on the weekends, but it's hard to sell to my wife that I get to spend ALL of the "best" daylight hours away from the family every weekend.
So I've kinda decided to do what I can this time of year, but that it's important to keep the family and job satisfied too. Shoot, I'm a mid 30's sport class racer after all -- in better shape than most of my peers with their couch patato beer guts, but I'll never be Roland Green either. I've just gotten back into racing since the career and the family, though, so any improvement is satisfying, and I have been improving despite my limited schedule. Plus, being an employed husband and father are also pretty important!
I feel for the guys who were great racers before they got "responsible." That must be really tough to see a decline in performance. |
| i can relate to that | sbxcguy
Jan 4, 2003 7:30 AM | | yeah, I guess you gotta put it all in perspective. I am in by far better shape than most of my non-racing friends. And after all, I enjoy the training for the fitness aspect as much as I do as preparation for racing. I guess it's just part of adapting to structured training vs. just going for it. Funny how "just going for it" works pretty well when you are first starting out and can make huge strides with almmost any type of training!
Thanks! |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | KMan
Jan 3, 2003 10:30 AM | | If I could hit 10/11 hours a week that would be amazing. Wife 2 daughters (2 & 5), family, work. I think you need to re-evaluate the amount of time you are training each week. You can definately train with much less time (though it now need to be very efficient training) and do well. Last year in Sport Vet I was training 5/6 hours a week and had a total riding/training time of about 260 hours. I placed top 3 in 8 of my series races and 4/6 in the other two. 2nd place in the series. This year my goal in Expert will be to add 1 additional hour per week training. In fact I was up last night on the trainer from 10 to 11:30 and 1 or 2 time a week in the morning from 6 to 7. It all about moving your training times to the best for your faimily (usually the least fun time for you though). Look around the web and develope your own plan that will be very efficient for you.
KMan |
| Check out this link... | bfcook
Jan 3, 2003 12:30 PM | | at the bottom portion of the page is a plan for 300 hours a year and the weekly totals don't look so bad for the base periods.
http://home.hia.no/~stephens/mtbplan.htm |
| maybe I'm missing something | Radar MCM #35
Jan 3, 2003 1:02 PM | | you have between 6am and 830 am every day to train...that alone is enough to meet your weekly goals for a 400 annual hours training schedule. A local xc pro (top 25 in the 2002 Norba pro point series) is a nurse, I'm sure she works crazy hours at work, but she still finds the time to do around 16-22 on the bike during winter.
That said, I don't think you have to do EXACTLY the number of hours in the week. But aim high! What you do now is about to pay off in the race season!
Radar MCM 335 |
| yeah, the time is there but... | sbxcguy
Jan 4, 2003 8:03 AM | | ...so are those "things" that always come up. Theoretically, I've got 2/hrs per day during the week plus 3 on the weekend days - that's 16 available hours. But again it's those other things tht are always getting in the way. Shoot, during Christms week we went to my in-laws for a week. Usually a week away from work and my hours are a lock! I even brought my bike on the plane at a cost of $80 each way! That's $160 for the one ride I did in 35 degree weather (I know - Ohio right? you need not feel sorry for me!:)). I still got my gym hours in and some riding when I got home - managed to get 10 out of 11.5 goal for the week. Another good example is this week. By New Years day I had already gotten in 5 of a 12.5 week. Thursday took a rest day as 2 days prior were weights and 65 mi E2 - good timiing for a rest day as I needed to spend some xtra time in the office. Friday a cold sets in. I work through it for my weights but today I don't think my scheduled ride will happen - I'm just wiped. If I feel better tomorrow I'll get 3 hours in and still miss my weekly goal by 2 hours.
I'm not complaining here. In fact I feel really lucky to have the support from my family and work to train as hard as I do. In the end it's just good to know that others with similar responsibilities off the bike go through the same thing.
Right now I plan on keeping the hours as is, just "doing my best" and if I miss an hour or two each week, it won't bother me (well maybe a little). I still feel like I have a good base and am still building on it. When I get deeper in the winter hitting the hours should be easier. Then again we'll see! If not, I'll change the annual hours for next year.
In the end, my goals are to always be prepared, competitive and race smart - that all coms from training - and if that gets me on the podium in certain races - great. If not, and I know did my best, I can live contently with that (knowing that I have a happy family and a great job waiting for me after the lycra comes off)!
Thanks for your input Radar - I always appreciate your level of enthusiasm. Thanks to everyone else who responded as well - all great comments and perspectives. |
| Sounds like you have it all... | free-agent
Jan 5, 2003 8:10 AM | | dialed in with the exception of the guilt. I felt crappy if I missed an hour or two last winter, and then began asking myself how the guilt of missing an hour or two due to other "issues" helped me. It doesn't help, so focus on the training that you do accomplish and feel good about that. Don't sweat the things you don't control (vacations, colds, etc.).
Isn't it great being in "Lance-shape" compared to your friends? |
| Exactly! | sbxcguy
Jan 5, 2003 8:41 AM | | I'm down with that program... Guilt seems to be a terrible waste of mental capcity doesn't it? Now could "guilt" be considered a "limiter"? he, he...
thanks |
| Probably... | free-agent
Jan 5, 2003 12:19 PM | | is for most of us :) |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | RISKDR
Jan 3, 2003 2:12 PM | | let me share my experience with you. i began riding in my late 30's as a way to get fit. it quickly blossomed into a magnificent obsession. at the peak of this obsession i raced every weekend and even on friday nights on the velodrome. i was riding about 15 true hours per week. i know it was true hours because my bike computer only recorded time when the pedals were going around. in looking back i have to say that it was obsessive nonsence. in the overall sceme of things it did not amount to anything really important. what it did do was nearly ruin my marriege because i was rigid about the training and let NOTHING stand in my way. sometimes we do things like mountain biking , or fly fishing, or any obsessive pursuit in an effort to put balance in our lives. the result is sometimes that we become very unbalanced indeed and lose the things that are really important for the long term. like a healthy marriege. and kids who actually have us around.
i'm not saying that some folks should not be going all out. when someone is young and single and wants to pursue excellence as an
athelete i say go for it. but if you have other resposibilties like a real job and a marriege then remember not to neglect those things to your detriment. they are really the foundation of your life and all this trainimg and racing is fluff. i guarantee it will no longer have meaning to you at some point in your life. just my 2cents and not for everybody. |
| re: reset hours | seriesracer
Jan 3, 2003 4:32 PM | | You'd be better off in my opinion to reset your hours to a realistically achievable total and achieve those training goals- you will feel more positive. Good news- every year you will get a bit stronger (for at least 7 years of training) unless you burn out. Remember you're building on a long-term base. look at this as a period of lesser volume in a mega-cycle that lasts 5 years. |
| Quality, not quantity | MTBDOC
Jan 5, 2003 2:49 PM | | As I've repeatedly pointed out in the past, for anyone short of a full-on pro, there is no need for huge hours year round. A single 4 to 5 week endurance block following the weight training phase is all of the "mega hours" needed for doing a 2 - 2.5 hr expert XC race. In season racing plus a couple of other 70-90 min high intensity workouts are the main point. Occasionally throw in a long ride the day AFTER a hard day (get more bang for the buck doing the endurance work when the muscle fibers are already fatigued) during the season.
Simply designing training around "annual hours" is ludicrous. More important is figuring out how many days you can train at what part of the season. For example, if you can put in a brutal 90 min 2-3 mornings a week (including weekends) the remainder of the week is far less crucial. Reading about pro's doing 20+ hr weeks is misleading as once per week mtb racers don't need it. Now if you are training to be a pro stage racer, obviously the volume needed is another matter entirely... |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | dirtydown
Jan 6, 2003 11:35 AM | | A group of 4-5 of us old married guys with kids formed a team in order to train for an ultra-endurance mtb event in June. We all face the same exact challenges that you do. The emphasis of our team is that family comes first. We encourage each other in that regard as well as in the cycling realm. Being part of a group that supports our obsession as well as recognizing the importance of the family and careers seems to give my cycling greater legitimicy for my wife.
I planned out my ride/training schedule through June and reviewed it with my wife. She is working on her doctorate. So there are some Fridays and Saturdays that I am committed to being with the kids. I am very grateful for that opportunity. She also gets Monday and Thursday nights for herself. It still isn't equitable but its closer. The team is also trying to schedule some family events such as campouts.
My training schedule is way too much. I did that on purpose because I know things will happen that will force me to have rest days. The trick is to recognize it when it is happening and that my plan is not just what is on the paper. Essentially, my training plan includes the unexpected. I just can't write down specifically when those unexpected events will occur.
I have to sacrifice early morning sleep in order to train. I was out on a team ride yesterday that started at 9:00. I left the house at 8:00 and didn't return until 3:00. I started feeling guilty and missed being with the kids about 1:00. I called when I was about 1.5 hours from home. In the future I will need to start my long weekend rides by 6:00. Some of the mtb days in the Spring will be all day events. Those are in the schedule that I have worked out with my wife.
My wife was not feeling well yesterday and the kids have been battling Strep. throat. Before I left I reluctantly mumbled "do you need me to stay home?". I told her that if she ever needed me to stay home from a ride she should let me know because it is very difficult for me to ask. I may be disappointed but I am committed to the family priorities.
When I return from a ride, I do not have the luxury of resting. I have to be fed and ready to go within an hour. I just consider it part of ultra-endurance training.
Good luck. Have fun. |
| Expert racer with 5 month old | Cevan
Jan 6, 2003 12:30 PM | | My challenge this year will be to get back to the same fitness level with less training time. I think going over your training plan with your spouse is good. That way there's no misunderstandings.
This year I'm probably limited to 4 rides/week (2 weekday, 2 weekend). For the base period, I'll try to get from 4-8 hours in on the weekends, and two 1 hour trainer rides on the weekdays, at least until DST. I'll try and schedule a couple of weeks with 5 rides to max out the hours before going on the the build phase.
My advice:
1. If you have to miss a workout, forget about it and move onto the next one. In the whole scheme of things, if won't make a difference.
2. Do back-to-back long rides on the weekends during the base phase. These seemed to work well for me last year. If I leave from my house, I can have breakfast w/the family and get a 3 hour road ride in before noon.
3. Define your goal(s) for the seaon. Pick a few races that are your 'A' races and focus your training on those.
4. Don't forget rest and diet in your training plan.
Hope everyone has a great seaon! |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | FasCat
Jan 6, 2003 7:15 PM | | sbxcguy --
I think you're taking the wrong approach by looking at hrs. Training is about what you do in those hrs. Kudos on a structured training plan--that is the way to really make significant improvements. Rather than focus on just riding those hrs. I would suggest taking a look at the intensity you are doing to increase your power output. Time spent in Zone 5 is way more important than getting in a 3 hr Zone 2 ride. And you can do interval workouts in an hour! If you have any questions give me a shout frank@fascatcoaching.com or visit my website for more information. I specialize in training programs for working adults! |
| Thanks for warning me | Radar MCM #35
Jan 7, 2003 6:27 AM | | I'm not really thinking of changing training methods anyways, but thanks for warning me NOT to use "fascat" coaching. Any coach that says "time spent in zone 5 is way more important than getting in a 3 hr zone 2 ride" might lead his athletes to decent fitness by march, but sure burn-out and possible injuries by july. Not to mention, no endurance. It's the winter months!! You're SUPPOSED to be doing long rides...have you ever raced??
Radar MCM #35 |
| What????????? | JoeC
Jan 7, 2003 7:56 AM | | "Time spent in Zone 5 is way more important than getting in a 3 hr Zone 2 ride."
Are you kidding me??? This guy is a coach?? Why don't you pay for some advertising for your 'coaching services' instead of posting here. This is a discussion forum.
Without those 3 hours base rides, you'll have no foundation upon which to build. Good luck doing those 2 hour mtn bike races.
By the way, I won an expert mtn bike race last year in early April, against 60+ riders. At that point in my season, I had only done easy, base type rides, almost all zone 1-3. No intervals. |
| I agree with JoeC | kleinrider
Jan 23, 2003 7:58 AM | | Base training must not be overlooked.
Who is this FasCat guy anyway? Some of his advice on these boards seems questionable to me. |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | pg_PL
Jan 9, 2003 2:34 PM | | Hey, reading all that makes me feel young with my only school - training puzzle :-) I just have one thought - In the preceding season I could ride only friday night to monday, because I study and live in a large (flat and eastern europe) city. I felt quite good in the base period and actually I felt no big side effects of squeezing 10-12 hrs of training into less than 4 days. But as soon as I started doing some intensity I wouldn't recover enough between workouts. If you happen to have some off days in your schedule that you could also use for training in the base period, you can try squeezing there some training too.
Just a thought.
greetings
pg_PL |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | happy
Jan 9, 2003 3:48 PM | | This post may already be dead, but I can relate... I'm early 30's sport class and initially set a fairly aggressive schedule, 500 yr/hrs. I decided to ratchet it back recently to 425 for reasons explained below.
It's funny, if all I had to do was make the workout it would be doable. But making the workout and balancing life commitments seriously wears on me. By the 3rd day of a heavy training week I'm wrecked both physically and mentally. I feel I should either reel in the amount of effort I'm putting forth or risk illness. If I catch a cold then I'm really slipping backward. Not sure if you'd call it advice, but I'm thinking that the goal hrs put in my plan are a little unrealistic given my current level of fitness. I plan to increase gradually as time goes by and I become accustomed. My hope is that it then won't be as difficult to manage the training, work, family, etc. because I'm not as wrecked 2 or 4 days in as I was before. So for me, the amount of available time isn't the issue, it really has to do with fitness level. How many expert racers who train at high levels have serious jobs and families? My guess is the majority. |
| re: reassessing my annual hours - help | happy
Jan 9, 2003 3:51 PM | | This post may already be dead, but I can relate... I'm early 30's sport class and initially set a fairly aggressive schedule, 500 hrs/yr. I decided to ratchet it back recently to 425 for reasons explained below.
It's funny, if all I had to do was make the workout it would be doable. But making the workout and balancing life commitments seriously wears on me. By the 3rd day of a heavy training week I'm wrecked both physically and mentally. I feel I should either reel in the amount of effort I'm putting forth or risk illness. If I catch a cold then I'm really slipping backward. Not sure if you'd call it advice, but I'm thinking that the goal hrs put in my plan are a little unrealistic given my current level of fitness. I plan to increase gradually as time goes by and I become accustomed. My hope is that it then won't be as difficult to manage the training, work, family, etc. because I'm not as wrecked 2 or 4 days in as I was before. So for me, the amount of available time isn't the issue, it really has to do with fitness level. How many expert racers who train at high levels have serious jobs and families? My guess is the majority. |
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