The Edge

Well, that wasn't the lamest discussion we've ever had. Here's more: we all hear about how it's better to be undertrained than overtrained. And we know for most masters it's not exactly a case of chronic overtraining as it is temporarily overreaching. But what I've been observing amongst some of the training bloggers fits what I'll call trying to get ahead. Sort of like doing all your chores early Saturday morning so that you can fuck off all weekend. More precisely, doing as much training as they think they can handle, and then doing a little bit more. It's natural to fear something getting in the way of your next workout, so putting the miles "in the bank" gives a sense of security. We've all done it. You don't want to do that though. I know I'm a broken record here, but finishing every interval, every workout, every block feeling like you could have done more will bring better, more sustainable progress. You're never "done." Always consider the next workout and how great it's going to be. When you're in the phases where a big push is required, there should be no surprises. In other words, some workouts and training periods will of course be quite difficult and you will push to your limits, but you should be able to anticipate when you're going to be cooked and need recovery. You have to have confidence in your training, past, present, and future. The correct dose of the correct training at the correct time.

Personally I've had to adjust a lot over the past few years. I have a lot of training experience, but I have ZERO experience being 48 years old. The learning process keeps going as I change. So does the training and recovery. Not necessarily worse or less, but different.

Not to end on a dark note, but last night I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that one day, the last bike ride of my life will come. Everyone remembers their first ride on a bike right? Your last ride could come any day, and maybe you'll never get a chance to remember it. You could be riding down the street one second and be dead the next. Or you could train and enjoy riding right into the latest stages of a long life and natural progression toward your ultimate and unavoidable demise. In that case you'd probably be riding less and less and then one day maybe you would not be able to ride again at all and that would be that. I wonder how many great riders have to live on for years remembering their last ride, or if they just forget about the last one and remember the good ones. Enjoy every minute you are able to be on your bike. It's wicked cool. Thanks for reading.