Off-season training (Part 1) Rest & Repair

The off-season, which for many athletes and enthusiasts starts in the fall or winter, is the time to regenerate all those body systems that have been working overtime all season long. Regeneration can include taking just a few days off to start with, followed by just enough training that you can create an effective balance between recovery and maintenance. Generally most athletes will spend about 4-6 weeks in this "transition" phase which includes lowering the training volume just enough to prevent a significant loss in fitness. The goal would be to try to maintain at least 50-60% of your current fitness so that you won't need to start from scratch next season. Many athletes choose to spend time doing other modes of training (e.g., cross training), something completely different, even to the point of avoiding their typical in-season training mode(s). Additionally, the transition phase is a good time to put a greater focus on your event limitations (i.e., your limiter). For example a triathlete may decide not to spend much or any time swimming or riding during the transition and focus primarily on the techniques and drills to improve thier stride efficiency on the run. Finally, the off-season is a great time to practise recovery techniques. Some examples recovery techniques include: post workout fueling, foam roller exercise or self massage, stretching or aqua workouts. See some recovery recommendations at http://www.fitstop-lab.com/halfmarathon/Recovery.pdf.

Stay tuned for Part 2 on off-season or transition training.  The topic: Stimulus Adjustment

The Future of Nutrition and Body Transformation

Here is a nice article discussing the important nutrition contributions to optimal health and fitness.   http://bit.ly/QToByu