What a month it has been.  Six weeks ago we decided to create a spotlight challenge for the month of March, shining our collective focus on a central part of the program that almost every Purple Patch athlete can engage in.  Our hope was that this spotlight would create urgency of focus, presence and learning in these key sessions.  In addition, my personal quest was to ensure athletes could apply the lessons to future sessions. I even had a sneaky feeling that a few of you would find out a new level of what ‘hard’ is.

Well, to my mind, mission accomplished.

I have been highly impressed with the execution, engagement and seeing so many more of you live in the video bike sessions.  I have to say that the cherry of an unexpected ‘Dirty Dixon Double’ class in week three crowned the month, and shout out to Sarah, Celine, Ken and Ed who stuck with me through class two.

As we finish the four sessions, it is a good time to take stock and realize the value on a few elements:

• The importance of holding great posture and form during high efforts.
• Despite the hard work, you can and should still focus on smooth pedaling
• How it is optimal to avoid a robotic following of a set power, instead following the execution and seeing what comes out of the tank.  Daily fluctuations open the door for great execution.

I would also add that you might have begun to realize the progressive element of the training focus.  Week three introduced the big overload session, with high recruitment and challenge.  Week four bought us the shift from strengthening tendons, ligaments and muscles to a more global systemic stressor of close to threshold work.  Yes, tougher work with more intensity coming.

So now we look forward. 

Racing is coming for many, and we are building a large 2021 specific series of education and support for race-readiness.  The baseline programming brings you much closer to race ready, and we even get dialed into highly race specific countdowns.  We will channel energy into the fun.  Before we turn out back on the March Challenge, remember that we have a large bike party on April 10.  A FREE live session with me -- all anchored around strong SE work.  It is going to be incredibly easy to integrate into a RACE BUILD, but we will help there.  It is -- officially -- a do not miss event.  Purple Patch athletes only!

The event will serve as the kick-off for our new add-on set of live and video-on-demand coaching around bike, strength and self-care.  It is named PLUS, and is an add on for 1:1 and Squad athletes alike. Details coming soon on that.

For now? Have a great week of assessments.  As mentioned in my Patch videos, assessment week is:

1. A time to pause and reflect on this last block.  What did you do great, where do you need to improve?
2. How did you do on habit integration?  Be honest with yourself, and recommit if you fell short?  If you nailed it, then you can now add another performance habit.
3. Reflect on your ARTERY workouts and overall performance.  Are you globally stronger?  Lower heart rate or perceived effort at similar paces / power?  Good, then it is time to adjust the zones a little.  If things haven’t gone as well as hoped, or you have experienced a setback then you may adjust zones down
4. Finally, the assessment sessions will paint the final picture of performance, and provide additional insight into zone adjustment.  Never the final word, but an additional piece of datas and performance in the border picture.

I hope that guides your mindset.  Best of luck and treat the time-trial swim and tough bike assessment as a little taste back into the racing mindset, with no risk of failure.  I should add, no run assessment this week.  You are free to add, but I considered the global stress too high, and an assessment not required for most.  I am very happy with the insights that the artery runs are providing.

Cheers,

Matt