Winter Training

Brrr…  It’s cold outside.  You don’t want to get up before work and train outside.  The trainer is only so appealing, even with the $400 in DVDs and toys you have lying around.  Hit snooze and go back to bed? 

NO!  You can’t.  Your competition is training, and sleeping in a few times can become a habit and get you out of your fitness routine.  Here are some tips to get out the door and train when it’s cold, wet, or freezing.

Do Something

If you’re on a training plan, you’ve got your instruction.  If you’re not, I suggest getting one.  A coach can help here, or you can write one on your own.  The benefit of someone else writing it is that you are accountable to that person.  It’s the next best thing to having a training partner knocking on your door.  That voice in the back of your head saying “if you don’t get out of bed and train I will know it” is a powerful voice and can bring good results.

Make it Count

You don’t have to go for a 3-hour session to make it count, and many times shorter is better.  A short duration, high intensity trainer or treadmill session can go a long way toward fitness and can give you a great workout in 40 minutes.  Or a short run in the morning and a short run at lunch can give the benefit of a single longer run.

Be Consistent

Do something every day.  It can be stretching, yoga, or a great 3-sport brick, but set aside time, leave all else behind for a short period of time, and do something for your fitness goals.  Consistency is the key to endurance training—gains are made over time, not a single day at once, but each single day adds up to produce results.

Make it Fun

We’re in this sport because it’s fun, right?  Don’t lose sight of that.  You get to train, not have to train.  As a good friend of mine says, “train with joy or not at all.”

Join a Group

Group indoor sessions are great for all of the above.  It’s scheduled, so you are encouraged to get out of bed and get there.  They are typically intense and may have the bonus of being just what your fitness needs at this time in the season.  Weekly or daily classes bring the athlete consistency.  And the group setting, especially early in the morning when all of you want to sleep in, can be a fun, energetic start to your day.  At the Tucson Endurance Performance Center, we build the cycling sessions to be appropriate for the typical racing season, intense and challenging, and fun.  You can’t go wrong there. 

Now get out and train!