Your Best Season Ever - Part Three

Summary

This video script discusses the importance of perspective and memory in athletes' training cycles. It emphasizes the need to recognize and let go of past performance levels to avoid being misled by peak memories. The speaker shares personal experiences, highlighting the significance of a balanced training approach, including easy workouts that form the base of athletic performance. The script also touches on the necessity of proper off-season periods to build up 'mojo' and prepare for future breakthroughs, cautioning against the common mistake of trying to maintain fitness levels at the expense of rest and recovery.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The end of a good season is marked by memorable high-performance moments, not the struggles or lower points during training.
• 📈 Athletes should aim for a transformation in performance level across the season, as illustrated by the increase in functional threshold power from 250 watts to a sustained 250 watts over 4 hours and 45 minutes.
• 🔍 The importance of a training log is emphasized for tracking progress and providing a realistic view of one's performance capabilities, especially during the off-season.
• 🧠 Awareness of the selective memory effect where athletes tend to remember the highs and forget the lows is crucial for maintaining a balanced perspective on training and performance.
• 🚴‍♂️ The necessity of easy training sessions as a foundation for the pyramid of training, supporting the more intense workouts that are more readily remembered.
• 🔄 The realization that as an athlete progresses, the focus should shift more towards performance rather than just the volume of training load.
• 💡 The reminder that sometimes reducing training load can help concentrate on performance components that lead to race success.
• 🔄 The common mistake of not taking a proper off-season and rushing back into training, which can hinder reaching peak performance.
• 🌱 The advice for athletes to go through periods of lower intensity to build up 'mojo' and not constantly challenge themselves, which is essential for ultimate breakthroughs.
• 📉 Understanding the need to shed fatigue and let go of peak performance memories to avoid being misled in the subsequent season's training.
• 🛠️ The emphasis on preparing for the critical training window before a major competition, ensuring physical and mental readiness, rather than maintaining an intense training load year-round.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this video script?

The main focus of this video script is discussing the athlete's experience and mindset at the end of a successful season, the importance of remembering both the highs and lows, and the necessity of a proper off-season to prepare for future peak performances.

What does the speaker mean by 'functional threshold power'?

Functional threshold power (FTP) is an estimate of the average power a cyclist can sustain for an hour at sea level. In the script, the speaker uses it to illustrate their improvement from the start to the end of the season.

How does the speaker describe the importance of easy training in the overall training pyramid?

The speaker emphasizes that easy training forms the base of the training pyramid, providing consistent volume that supports the more intense workouts. It's crucial but often not remembered as vividly as the challenging sessions.

What is the 'blue line' mentioned in the script, and what does it represent?

The 'blue line' is a metaphor used by the speaker to represent the load or volume of training. It's not the ultimate goal but a means to achieve performance levels.

Why does the speaker suggest that an athlete's memories of peak performance might mislead them?

The speaker suggests that memories of peak performance might mislead athletes because they tend to forget the hard work and easy training that led to those peaks, and instead focus on the high points, which can lead to unrealistic expectations in the next season.

What is the role of a training log according to the speaker?

A training log is valuable as it provides a record of an athlete's performance over time, allowing them to reflect on their progress and typical performance levels, which can help in setting realistic goals and expectations.

What mistake did the speaker admit to making as an elite athlete?

The speaker admitted to not applying the principles of shedding fatigue and not having a proper off-season, leading to a lack of patience and an eagerness to return to race shape quickly, which can hinder long-term performance.

What does the speaker suggest is the number one mistake made by elite athletes?

The speaker suggests that the number one mistake made by elite athletes is not shedding the fatigue from a breakthrough season and not allowing themselves to come down to a lower performance level during the off-season.

What is the significance of the off-season according to the speaker?

The off-season is significant as it allows athletes to shed fatigue, rebuild their 'mojo', and prepare for future peak performances without the pressure of immediate competition.

How does the speaker describe the process of returning to training after an off-season?

The speaker describes the process as starting with a period of light activity to keep the body moving and life in order, followed by a return to moderate, balanced training to ensure health and readiness for more intense training periods.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the preparation for the next competitive season?

The speaker advises focusing on preparing life and body, ensuring the immune system and 'mojo' are ready for the intense training period leading up to the competitive season, rather than pushing for continuous high performance during the off-season.