While 2021 probably feels like a long way off, from an athletic/endurance athlete goal standpoint, it’s really not too long. Most coaches—including Peter!—will agree that there are a few advantages to having some time before your next goal. In fact, most coaches aren’t thinking about this season with their athletes, they’re thinking about anywhere from one to five years in the future. So, if your goal races have been cancelled this season here are some questions to ask and your next steps to improving your bad-ass athlete-self.
What is the goal / What is your why?
Questions you may want to ask yourself include: What do you want to be able to do in 2021 (or 3 years, 4 years, 5 years) down the road? Can you Prepare for the Goal You have Set? And more importantly, do you want to?
This may seem like a bummer of a question set (hey …) but it is important and timely. If you don’t like (or can’t) ride for long period on gravel but you FRIGGEN LUST OVER an aggressive crit race … then why not focus on crit racing?
There hasn’t been such a great time for a pivot or re-invention as now … if you need to accumulate skills (and we all do) then picking the rough target and getting amped on the training and mastery is your key to success in sport.
Like the cliche ‘if you do what you love for work, you will never work a day in your life’
Take a Skill-Based or Process-Oriented approach
We need races to test our skills and get a little scared (ok … a lot scared) on those startlines but to get better at your chosen sport/discipline there are likely a laundry list of things you want to get better at, more familiar at,
Peter likes to say that our goal is to make race day more like our everyday. He doesn’t mean you should race everyday but that if everyday looks like a flat criterium and you plan on doing a big-burly-gravel-adventure like Dirty Kanza … your race day is going to be a scary and those race nerves likely warranted.
Possible things to add to your skills/process:
- Can you ride no hands?
- Can you eat enough while training ?
- Can you take warmers/jackets off while
- Do you have shoes, packs, clothes that you love and survive the challenge of your goal training/race
- Do you have the skills required (bunny hop, cornering etc)
- Do you have mechanical skills (daily maintenance and those required to salvage a day at the races – flat change, chains, etc)
- Do you always ride hills – time to improve on flats
- Do you love flats – ride more hills
- Do you like grinding at slow speeds and headwinds – ride faster
We have a lot to do … and some time to do it. Seeing progress on your skills/fitness/abilities/fun/confidence are huge … get after it.
Related Posts
- Can you prepare for the goal you have set
- When should you start preparing for your goal
- Should you take time off?
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