The end of my off season is done. In about 6 hours I start my first race of the mountain bike cross-country (XC) season.
Off season is a funny time because when you are racing you look forward to it; but once you are in it, you can't wait to race again.
Last years racing season was interesting in itself as I was scheduled to do the US Cup series PLUS Stagecoach 400 PLUS a couple of 50 milers PLUS the Enduro in Idyllwild. Lets just saying I didn't get to everything. The 400 was an excruciating race that left me worked over. I didn't race after that for awhile and then got the strength to do a couple more 20 milers and finished with a bang with the Enduro, a 60 mile race with 12k feet of climbing. I trained hard for that last race and it proved to demand more than I expected. I was truly ready for the off season. It was November.
Ahhh time to rest... no training, no schedules. It's kind of like recess for my kindergarten daughter. Do whatever you want ,when you want, and how you want. Time to recover your body from hard training and your mind to stay focused. This time is just as important to racing as intervals, cross training, and nutrition.
The hardest part of the off season was letting my mind have a vacation. It was always nosey trying to see what was happening and making unwelcome comments. Slowly over time my brain settled down and I did have fun. I embraced the off season. I got CrossFit level 1 trainer certification and reenergized my yoga practice both helping keep my body strong and the latter to keep my mind flexible.
I got the new racing calendar in January just in time as I was feeling the itch :). I was excited to race. Training picked up and in the intervals and lactic threshold riding began once again. And now I'm about to close a chapter and start a new chapter of racing and I'm ready. Bring it on!
Train hard, train smart, and don't forget to take breaks
Chi
