Question of the Week: I am close to the end of the season as I have my main A (and final) race in three week's time. I was planning on taking a big break for 2 - 3 months, then coming back toward the end of the year for my big push for 2016. One of your team asked me to reconsider but I feel like I need a break. Can you give me your thoughts?
It is timely, as many are approaching the last key race of the season. Let me say TWO things initially:
- Taking a break is massively important.
- Across the board, those who maintain consistent load and commitment are those who are most successful.
You may think these points are contradictory but the devil is in the details. At the end of a season you should have a couple of weeks of no structured training, where you heal, focus on being social and make any exercise simply joyful and unstructured. Following this, there is a progressive focus of training that is critical for longer-term development. It doesn't need to be oppressive, nor a massive time commitment, but it is very important if you want to set up a great next season.
To highlight the phases of recovery and progression into the season following, I created this outline of how I envision many approaching the end of one season, a break, then reintegration to effective post-season training.
As you read this, remember that nearly every athlete that I see who makes massive breakthroughs has taken a 'year round' approach to training. I would go as far to say that their success is more down to what they do between seasons and beginning another, than it is to what they do in the heart of the season. Think twice before you completely pull the plug; you are setting yourself up for limited progression and a lower yield on your next season.
I hope that helps.
Cheers,
Matt Dixon and the Purple Patch team
