Consistency is King

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BY: Matthew Lewis

Published: 20th January, 2011

I'm beginning to realise just how important it is to be consistent with your training.

The only problem is, is that bloody life keeps getting in the way! In a huge effort to be consistent and actually for the first year ever have a go at structtured training I find myself having to depend upon the old trusty turbo trainer once again. I disovered the joys(!) of this last year and as much as I feel like a hamster, it works. Last year I was pretty good at consistently pestering Stephen James (there is a rumour going around he's racing Elite this year) about this new way of training for someone who doesn't have much time. And I have to be honest I've bought into it. All this going out and riding for 5 hours is all well and good but I just don't have that time any more, not in term time anyway, so he gave me a few pointers on how to increae your V02 max with the Tacx Flow in a sensible amount of time. Now don't get me wrong I believe in all that "there are no short-cuts to any place worth going" philosophy but the riding I've been doing lately concentrates on boosting your Vo2 max with riding around the notorious 'sweetspot' and horrendous sesions riding at, or on your Vo2 max. So far I'e been racking up the hours but

unfortunately they are

mostly on the turbo. The sessions are mainly 3x20mins at FTP or functional threshold power. Mixing it up a bit I do  5x2minutes at Vo2 max and my favourite for some reason is 30x30 sec. 30 secs all out followed by 30secs recovery. As well as these 3 key sessions I get out for 2 longish rides of 2 and 3 hrs on the ride bike. As well as fell running with the schools' cross country club. And showing off my footie skills on the astroturf!

All of this is a bit new for me. In the past it's just been ride when you can but I've actually written things down in a diary this year. Crazy I know. In fact squeezing all of these sessions in has meant me disappearing during my free teaching periods to blast out an hour on the turbo. Who knows this year I may even over-train!

It's got me thinking though that since my main focus this year is to beat Phil. Sorry, I meant to say to compete at the sharp end of Masters' racing why do I need to do all of these base rides? 5hours on the bike is all well and good but cross country racing is what, 2hours max. Less if the UCI get there way.

I'm still going to cram in some long rides but the main focus will be shorter, more painful sessions. Who needs base sessions anyway?! Base miles are for wimps! I'm back on the hamster wheel tommorow. Of course, by the first BMBS on the 27th March I may regret all of this!

Matt Lewis