Hi Kimmy!

I have always had a goal on the schedule, something to train for, be it a peak to summit, or a backpakcing trip, something. I did tri's in college a long, long time ago, and then got back in to racing 4 years ago. I still trained, but with no " formal" plan.

HOWEVER, my serious, by the book, follow a plan training started last January for this Xterra season. I loved it. I loved seeing the progression and seeing the physiological changes along the way. Here is what I learned:

1. Block training, or periodization really works. If it can work for me at 45, it can work for just about anybody.

2. It is sometimes harder to do the rest weeks and the easy days than to go out hard all of the time.

3. The rest weeks and easy days are critical to the process. That is when you make your gains.

4. That mt biking with the gang is not always in my best interest as far as my trining goes, and that I had to be a little selfish and do what was right for me.

5. The plan needs to be flexible to account for weather, stress, life, weariness etc.

6. Missing a few days of training over the long haul will not sink the ship.

7. It is better to undertrain slighlty than overtrain slightly.

And lastly...I learned that I am A LOT tougher than I ever gave myself credit for.

Good luck with your planning....you are going to do great.

Ruth