If you have been paying attention the past two weeks, there has been a theme for putting the pieces in place to make a solid long-term plan:
Having a way to track and assess your progress (“How do I know this is even working?)
If you work with intent and attention to detail, you put yourself in a great position to get to a start line and see your months of work pay off.
Before that happens, you may benefit from having a clear understanding of where and when that start line will be. A hard deadline signals a commitment.
There are 4 things you need to KNOW when selecting your key races for the season. Maybe it is for 2024 or maybe you want to plan for 2025 and beyond. As you’ll see, it is never too early to look ahead.
Know exactly what you want
With a clear commitment to an event, you can begin to backward plan what it might take to get to that goal.
Your level of investment required
Your timeline to completion
Your ability to hit a true peak within the year
Giving yourself plenty of time alleviates the need to rush performance and gives you the space to build thoroughly toward an A-race. You may only have 1-2 peaks in you per year and a hasty preparation can jeopardize the longer-term picture.
This shortcoming often comes in the form of a steep ramp in the weeks before the main event that may work great or may leave you sick/injured. I have experienced both.