Athletes will spend their time thinking about the great upcoming races, and are chomping at the bit to get out and get competing, hammering out the sessions. In fact, athletes don't tend to need to do much to see improvements in their fitness during the honeymoon phase, as just getting out the door consistently does this for them. They are motivated, and the sessions are high in quality.

In years of watching athletes train, no one cares about improvement until it isn't happening anymore. When this time hits, the honeymoon is over! Once it becomes a chore, or requires discipline, changing of routine, or some mysterious twist in training, athletes tend to get frustrated and things begin to go down hill. It happens nearly every season, to many, if not most athletes.

This year, don't be blinded by the honeymoon phase of training! Prepare and plan ahead for the time when simply getting out the door won't be enough to bring fitness improvements. The body will reach a plateau of fitness improvements if the athlete does not take the time to periodize and change the training stresses over the course of a season. You must look to adapt your training and change it in the ways which will most effectively help you reach your goals.

For some of you, that time needs to be now! Perhaps you need to start with a simple "Base Training" plan for these early season months, so that when the season starts and you begin to do more of your favorite group workouts, you will continue to see the improvements you want to see! (Check out some of these types of plans at: http://home.trainingpeaks.com/training-and-nutrition-plans/training-plans/jim-vance.aspx.  Type in FLMS in the discount/promo code box on the order page for a 5% discount when you check out!)

For others of you, this will happen later in the season, when perhaps a mid-to-late season Ironman comes into the picture, and you need to move to bigger volume, and better Ironman-specificity.

If you're self-coached, consider a simple training plan to get you prepared properly, before you take over the reins. Or consider hiring a coach full-time, or even on a part-time consulting basis. You'll be amazed at what you can learn

If you've had some disappointments over the past season or two, and wish you had done things differently, now is the time to change for the new year! Don't be blinded by the honeymoon, because we all know that vacation period only lasts so long. Best of luck!

Coach Vance

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