Our process for performance enhancement utilizes the same evaluation and plan development protocol for all our clients no matter their experience level, seasonal or long-term goals. 

The Interview
We start the process by discussing your goals and defining where you are currently in your fitness continuum relative to those goals.  For experienced cyclists we prefer to review any training logs from at least the prior two seasons and may also suggest field and/or lab tests to more accurately determine fitness level.

Goal Setting and Plan Development
After establishing and prioritizing your event/race schedule for the season and associating any test and training data, a plan will be developed to aid in moving you toward and eventually achieving your “A” event goal[s].  The “plan” will be constructed on the basis of sound physiological principals as a “living” plan, in other words to be adjusted on an as needed basis to accommodate unanticipated results or life issues.      

The Importance of Training Data
Maintaining a training log is a good habit to develop and provides valuable data to a coach for plan development and progress assessment.  Training logs can be as basic as a weekly segmented, hand written log indicating mileage, average speed, time spent in various heart rate zones, total accumulated elevation for the ride, etcetera, [I have both printed and electronic versions of this form], or as sophisticated as complete power based files sent electronically indicating a variety of metrics from average power output to peak and threshold power correlated with heart rate and other parameters.  The bottom line is that the more data you can provide, the more accurately the prescription for exercise can be.  This becomes a particularly important reference tool as you move steadily along your fitness journey.   

Getting to Know Your Body
There are two important variables we will address quickly.  They are Recovery and Stress Accumulation.  Everybody accepts and assimilates training stresses in differing ways.  Discovering this optimal balance is not an exact science and requires making periodic adjustments to your plan.  It takes time to become sensitive to and make training adjustments for what your body is willing to accept.  An experienced coach can help you read these subtle signs but it is also important for you the athlete to learn them as well.

Lastly, please understand that the more ambitious the goal, the correspondingly larger amount of time required accomplishing it.  It can take years of steadily building fitness before certain goals can be obtained.  In our “hurry up” culture, beware that our bodies although amazing bio-chemical machines continue to evolve by a much slower clock.