toughening up
The key to endurance events is having the belief that it is
possible.
Of course it also requires the ability to make the time to
train, and then the will to train no matter how appealing an extra
hour in bed is. Whether you are training for a 10k running race or a
2 day mountain marathon, training needs to be consistent. It also
requires the ability to realise when you are training too hard.
Finding a training plan that both suits your aspirations and your
ability will certainly help maintain motivation.
Regular strength training will be essential to toughen ourselves against injury and assist in the sledge hauling. Economical movement is achieved by improving our techniques in all the required skills and by mental training.
Much of our training involves long hill runs and trips out to the hills and mountains during the weekends.
triathlon training
Triathlon training is great for all endurance sports as it enables you to continue aerobic training without the risks of injury from over-training in just one activity. By spreading the workouts fairly evenly over the course of a week, it gives the body time to recover for each discipline.
Above is the format of a typical training plan that many coaches
would advocate, even upto Ironman distance. The differences would be
the time devoted to each weeks sessions and the emphasis of each
session as the season progresses.
For example at the beginning of the season, the total weekly
training would total maybe up to about 6 hours of easy intensity in
order to build base endurance. This base building should be the
longest phase.
A couple of months into the training, the hours and intensity would
increase to start building on power and speed.
The final stage leading up to your major event or race is to
concentrate on race skills and speed to peak ready for competition.
key tips
- Train in hours - not distance. Rather than going for a 5 mile run, go for a 30 minute run. You will always know how long your training will take each week and is easier to schedule and you'll resist the tempation to always beat your previous time and potentially get injured
- Try and fit training around work. Run or cycle to work a couple of times a week or swim at lunchtime. It has less impact on family time.
- Train early. Get out of bed as early as you can and train before work. It's then done and you'll feel better at work knowing you don't have to go out again that evening. Granted, it is tough though!
- Focus. Have a series of events lined up throughout the year to keep you motivated enough to go out even when it is raining and cold outside. If you can go out whatever the weather, you'll be better prepared than your competition come race day.
- Rest when you are tired or injured. You don't want to waste months of hard work by overtraining when you are not well enough. Again this is not easy when you are committed to a training plan.
tyre hauling
