the importance of routine

Routine. One of the most important aspects of a training plan. Train at the same time each day. Teach the body to know when to go hard, when to take it is easy and how to recover. If you can, train at the same time you race. Within a 24 hour cycle, your body has various states. Ready to perform. Ready to rest.

In the winter, I do most of my training at night on the rollers. The body gets used to this. Expects it. Night after night on the cold balcony.

In the warmer months, this routine is turned on its head. Asaren. Ride before the kids get up. Ride before it's too hot. The body gets used to this too. No need to set the alarm when you have a 5am body clock.

This week, a combination of bad weather and a heavy work schedule mean I've been grabbing scraps of training time. Asaren. Night time rollers. The body gets confused. Reluctant to perform.

Tonight I got on the rollers at 8 o'clock. Looked at the HR on the computer. 41. Almost asleep. The plan was to do an hour at 150HR. Usually it takes 10 minutes to warm up to this. Tonight the body was having non of it. Sitting comfy in the 130s.

I ditched the plan and went for an hour at 55 kmph instead. The Strokes turned up loud to keep me company.

Weather looks good from tomorrow. Weather permitting, I want to switch back into asaren mode. Ready for an early start for a 200km ride on Saturday.

Thursdays training:

Ride to the music – The Strokes

55 kmph target x 60 mins

(54 km, 54 kmph, 101 cadence, 132 HR)