ARE YOU READY FOR THE DAY AFTER YOUR LAST RACE OF THE YEAR? Planning for the Post-season

THE FINISH LINE IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Athletes often plan their season meticulously and prepare for races with an energy and passion that is unmatched elsewhere in their lives. You have a training plan mapped over several months and every day is a session that brings you closer to your goal. From taking care of your body, to tinkering with your bike and gear, you maintain forward momentum to your goal races and make that journey a constant part of your life. You are committed to eating well, sleeping well and making positive choices on a daily basis to support your big goal races. You even have a vision of what that finish is going to look like and how you feel crossing it. But do you have a picture of the day after? Just as importantly, do you have a picture of the how you are going to plan for the next season? Athletes have a huge emotional, as well as physical, investment in their goals. The larger the event, the larger the investment. When the event is over, there is sometimes a feeling of letdown. Without the goal pulling you forward there is an emotional void and a sense of letdown, or postrace blues, after the adrenaline wears off. This is normal and being prepared for the week after your goal race is an essential part of season planning.

Here are some tips for preparing for the “other” part of your season.

1. Have a plan for what’s next

Whether it is a two-week vacation in Hawaii, or a detailed recovery and regeneration plan, plan your post-race training well in advance of race day. A good training plan includes at least four to six weeks of post-season recovery. If you are planning on a break, make sure you know how you are going to fill your time. Knowing what to do, and what you want to do, after the race goes a long way to filling the void.