It is great to see everyone’s training plans and get a sense of where individuals are as we approach the start of the season. The one question I’ve neglected to ask is how each plan developed, though I’m guessing a lot of you are using Joe Friel. For the past three years I’ve spent the winter weight training, to help both my cycling and my skiing. Unfortunately this year I didn’t make the pilgrimage to Alta and I have only hit the slopes once, but the benefit has been more weekend hours on the bike.
I’m using Chris Carmichael’s book, likely in tandem with TRAINING WITH POWER now that I have the Powertap. This is the final week of 9 weeks on the weights and it brings me closer to the end of the “foundation” period. I can’t wait. I got a bit of a late start on this but after looking at the calendar I think it is going to work out well for the May races I am targeting, namely Blue Hills and Sterling. Next week will be dedicated to “regeneration” with no added training volume, and then I’ll start the “preparation” period. That means intervals and tempo riding which will be a lot more fun than leg presses and squats. The preparation period will end right before Marblehead, and then I’ll enter the “specialization” period and will complete that at the end of April. With luck I’ll peak for that first weekend in May. Though I despise the weight training it has helped me to keep the winter weight off and I’m hovering right at 170. I hope this will make it easier for me to hit my target weight of 165 so I can hang on the climbs when Sunapee rolls around.
2 Responses to “End of the Foundation Period”
Leave a Reply
Proudly Sponsored by…
Follow Us...
Sounds like great progress, Ken. fyi, my training plan is based on my readings of Friel’s training bible, Training and Racing with a Power Meter (a good source regardless of whether you have a power meter), and talking with Leo and Cory about their plans and heart rate zonage. though I would like to lift for next year’s campaign.
Yeah, way to go Ken- don’t worry about the late start. The season is long and your passing interest in ‘cross this early signals that you will be out there for every race in October.
Though I’ve been doing some cruise intervals and base3 type stuff, I’m going to use Wells, Marblehead, to try to figure out where my weaknesses lie, and work from there.