A Close to The 2024 Season
Hi, as the 2024 season has come to a close I am both reflecting and planning. First, reflecting on what could have been different in 2024 to avoid some ups and downs in performance when I needed it. Second, what can I do to improve my performance for 2025. It was a very long season with a lot of pressure on me in a Paralympic year.
I know right away, something I thought often about in during the 24 season, that I need to include more strength and power to my workouts, as I was scared to add more in as the season begun so early. I thought I could carry momentum. Too much cardio for a quad that can only reach a very low exercise heart rate is not good. Adaptations to training need to be brought on in a different way. It’s a puzzle designing the perfect exercise routine. Training mods are one item for sure. I took two weeks off post Loma Linda time trial to destress from the season, not being selected to Paris, meditate, and more. Starting tomorrow I’m back in the gym 4 x week and riding 4 x week. This is a training routine I know well and one of the strength days is to failure. I am also going to spend 2 x week on the mat and 4x in the standing frame. And lastly, I will intermittently us my stimulator on core and legs for overall increased blood flow and activation of the lower motor neurons. Swimming may replace a strength day, tbd.
The paragraph above is about training and being aware, well in advance of events, of being physically prepared. And, the routine will change throughout the season. All other details such as making sure the passport is not about to expire (big issue causing me to almost miss Belgium), keeping diet in check, getting quality sleep, not taking on too much work at the school, keeping equipment tuned up, not pushing it regarding training and being patient, and so much more is absolutely essential to keeping stress low. I did really well last year and at the beginning of this season. Europe was ok for me this year but could have been better. We are just so delicate to the constant stresses from every direction. I feel I have a strength of resilience but performance markers need to be top notch to handle the training/competing loads required of us.
Looking forward to sharing how next month is going. Back to some training, teaching, and more.
