May 14, 2023

HOW TO DO MAINTENANCE MODE

WHETHER MY NEXT A RACE IS IN 6 MONTHS OR 6 YEARS, this is my maintenance mode. It's tried and true...

... and might be good for you.

Because here's the deal.

We can't race all the time.
Can't be always on.
Gotta rest.

Here's my formula for successful maintenance:

Know what the next A race, or could be.
Ride hard twice a week.
Do other stuff.

Knowing what the next A race, however far off, is a powerful motivator to maintain our good habits we practice when we really want to preform well.

We might drift off course from time to time,
but we always come back because that big challenge is out there.

Riding hard twice a week is simple enough in concept. It can be difficult to do alone. The best way I've found is to have a group to ride with on those big effort days.

For sure somebody in that group has an upcoming A race,
and their energy will get us to regularly push ourselves.

There are lots of other activities I enjoy that compliment riding and racing. Most of them involve family and friends, and it's great to connect more often and deeply than I might when living the A race life.

During maintenance mode the ride time often fluctuates wildly. Long days when there's time, short days or skipping days when time is short. Often, it's just a matter of taking a mental break that necessitates this...

... lack of a regimen.

I've gone years between A races, but I've always had something big out there...

... haunting me to stay fit and healthy.

When is your next A race/event/challenge?
Who is pushing you twice a week?
What can you add?