Take the Pressure Off while Building Your Base
Unless you live in an area where training outside may be unsafe due to snow, ice, or extreme weather, there is no reason to not get outside. A bit chilly? Wear the proper clothing to accommodate for cold or wind chill. Raining? You get wet anyway when you are swimming, so what’s the issue? The plethora of high-tech clothing and shoes leaves you with no excuse to stay indoors on winter weekends, and chances are, you may have the roads or trails to yourself!
If you are consistent, steady, and disciplined, you will have a long, strong base come March and be in position to add speed to your program. Remember, after some downtime, it will take a while for you to get back into your usual routine and you may slip up and miss workouts more than you do during the season. Take the pressure off, enjoy your easy time on the roads, and you’ll be back up to speed in no time.
If your training is intelligently structured, you will hit your first spring event ready to race with a solid core of strength. The more engaged you are with your playtime and your off-season training, the more enjoyable that first season race will be.
