Original version published Nov 2021

As the majority of us embrace the post-season phase of training, we find ourselves in a perfect time to embrace a project. A real Purple Patch Project. For newer athletes, you might be confused by the meaning behind a project, so let me explain.

I see a project as:

A block of time in which you place a concerted emphasis on a part of the performance puzzle, in order to develop a positive habit, improve technically, establish great training habits, or set up improvement potential in the season ahead.

This is very broad, and that is because there is no magic bullet or secrets to choosing a project. So what can a project provide?  In order to outline this, let’s remember what this phase is:

• Weeks to months of lower overall physical training load
• Extended freedom to enjoy other activities
• A critical phase of preparation (skills, tissue resilience, habits) for the upcoming season

Your season success is built on top of the platform of post-season, despite it being the phase that provides the least physical challenge, necessity to nail every session, or validation of massive fitness improvements.  I believe it is so easy for athletes to wander mentally, and stray off structure too much, so there is nothing like a project to help course correct and stay focused. It is the perfect time to embrace a project, as you should have more capacity (if not, you are doing something wrong!).  Let’s consider the types of projects I love:

• A run project: A fan-favorite and easy to execute. A multi-month approach to your running training in which the vast majority of running sessions are both easy (or as we call them: soul filling) and shorter. Frequency is the name of the games, with almost daily running without pursuit of big gains in fitness or speed. Instead, we chase tissue resilience and improvements in form. A session could be 7 - 10 minutes, you will have plenty of 20-40 min sessions, and just a sprinkle of intensity and occasional extended run. The key in this project is to build consistency over months, and not even focus on speed gains or boosting fitness. All the while it will be layering underneath he surface of perception, and put you in good stead for when you bring back an emphasis of harder running training.  Ironically, this project should not dominate the training calendar, nor create massive muscular load. Think of it as fun and under the radar, with plenty of room for other training. 

• A strength project:  This is the perfect time to commit, and begin your year-long journey in strength. This happens to be my chosen project, as it is an area I tend to under-emphasize. Committing to embracing strength as a priority is important, but I think it deeper than this: a true strength project includes the ambition to really nail the exercise execution well, hence one of the reasons we love the video coaching. I also think this project should come hand-in-hand with leaning into accountability and community, including joining us for our December Consistency Challenge. Opportunities for shared accountability in the community will be massively helpful to your adoption and consistency, as well as truly doing the exercises well. Squad Athletes: you'll see optional alternate Strength workout series in the back half of Q4, for those looking to infuse heavy lifting into their sessions.

• A swim project: If swimming has been your weakness, this is a good time to place emphasis. Technical development, consistency, and adding swim load is a good thing over the coming weeks. If you are a weak swimmer, you won’t regret it and it will help you as a broader athlete. Squad Athletes: look out for additional links in your swim workouts to drills and execution videos. If you really want to 'dive in' deeper to improve your swim, use the code PPF_Lifejackets_Off for $25 off our Swim Analysis program where you'll get in-depth personalized coaching on your swim from coach John Stevens.

• A nutrition project. 2-3 months: a perfect time to lean into creating new habits, developing knowledge and truly understanding your best approach to your fueling and nutrition. Training stress is lower, you have no looming race, so dive all in.  it is a commitment, and takes bravery, but a 2-3 month focus on the big topic should develop a toolkit and set of habits that lead you into control, energy and performance returns next year. FuelIn is a key partner in this endeavor, both through their commitment to interactive live events and integrated education exclusively for Purple Patch athletes, and (of course) their services. 1:1 and Squad athletes: watch for Expert Office Hours with Fuelin built into the program this fall and winter, and check out the replay of their great session from last fall here. If you're looking for more support around your nutrition project, click here to check out the Fuelin program or book a consultation with the Fuelin team.

These are four examples of high quality projects for the coming months. You don’t need any major programming changes, and can easily build around the baseline plan.  This isn’t about ‘training for something hard’. It is about habit creation and tissue resilience.  You don’t need to choose all the projects, but 1-2 will fit well.

A final word: if there is one other magic project, for me, it would honestly be around embracing the benefits of the video coaching. In my professional opinion these sessions are truly valuable. Strength and Bike. I would urge you to lean into the live and VOD sessions in the coming months -- and to stay tuned for a huge evolution in the experience coming mid-November. The magic only comes if you truly immerse, lean in and engage with each session in a committed way.  But I promise you that -- if you do -- then the sessions will help you improve. 

Cheers,

Matt