Evaluate

As I said in a prior blog, for most of you "roadies", the road racing season is over.  This is a perfect time to evaluate your season.  Even if you've made the transition to Cyclocross it's still a good time.  When evaluating your season, look at both the positives and the negatives.  The good, bad and perhaps the ugly.  Yes, the ugly.  We've all had UGLY moments in our season...you know, those races where you were dropped (or near dropped) or just didn't have it.  Did you meet your 2010 goals?  If you did, awesome.  If not, don't beat yourself up.  Just jot down a few reasons why you think you didn't?  Could be you just underestimated the demands of the race.

So, go ahead, write em down.  If you did well, why did you do well?  Were you in peak shape/condition?  Did you taper successfully for your event?  How was the competition?  Were you better?  Evaluate your strengths of the race.  Was your endurance good?  Did you have a good sprint?  Did you have a good line throughout your race?  Were you well rested?  Good nutrition?  etc.  If you didn't do so well, why not?  What were your weaknesses?  Can't sprint?  Were you stressed out?  Not enough sleep?  Eating poorly?  Did you gain weight and have problems with the hills? etc.  Write it all down.

If you're a Power Meter user, which I hope you are, tag all of your race files and take a look at the power demands of the race.  Did you have enough power to meet the demands of the race?  Did you have any peak power outputs?  What were your strengths and weaknesses?  Did you have good 5 min. power but poor 20 min. power..or vice versa?  If you don't know how to analyze your files, find a good power based coach (like me..haha) and have him/her evaluate them for you.

All of this information is critical information in setting up your Training Plan for the 2011 season.  Remember, train your weaknesses and race your strengths. If you need some help in getting started, send me an email and I'll help you out.  If you're one of the athletes I coach, I'll be contacting you shortly to sit down or discuss your training plan for next season.  Until then..relax..enjoy the off-season..and get ready for a better/stronger 2011.  Power ON!  Coach Rob