My off season ends this week. Next week we will start official pre season training on both Tuesdays and Thursdays with next Thursdays session being a mini trathlon at Penrith Lakes. I anticipate that we will be given weekend sessions to complete as well. From all reports Tuesday's session will have a lot of volume and will be quite intense. The next three weeks I expect will contain some very tough training followed by some testing just before Christmas.
I feel that I have balanced a restful offseason with some personal preparation leading into the pre-season. Training this week has been scaled back a little to rest the body in the lead up to the next three weeks which I am treating as a solid block. Our trainer will be chatting with us over the pre season to address personal weaknesses so I need to have a think about what these are so they can be addressed in the specific preparation phase of our training. We will be using the testing before Christmas as a guide but I already had some ideas that I tossed around at the end of last season.
1.Illness/Sleep/Nutrition
Found it difficult to adjust with a change in squads last year. Got trapped in that spiral where I would not eat enough... then stay up late which led to sleeping in too late... not getting the day's tasks done... rushing to training where I was ill prepared... not eating enough again because I rushed through my day... drinking too much coffee to make me feel better and well yeh you get the picture. This led to repeated illness which affected my season. I have restored balance over the offseason and need to follow the rules I have layed out for myself.
2. Top Speed
I have little doubts around my off the mark speed. From a standing start over 20-40m I have more than adequate speed and power. What seems to have diminished a little (due to factors from #1. above I think) is my top speed. To be fair I don't think my top speed has ever been as comparitively strong as my starting speed but I used the word diminished because I think this area had dropped off a little bit.
3. Flexibility/Recovery
A bit of tightness in the left hip led to a bit of tightness in the left knee which led to poor running form which I think affected #2 above. Also due to factors # 1 I did not make time to stretch. I have always prided myself on my flexibility it has made a comeback and needs to stay.
When it comes to addressing these weaknesses I have already laid out a bit of a plan and it is these things that I will discuss with the trainer and focus on this season.
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