Crosssports's Weblog

Howdy folks,

How’d your skill work go yesterday?

I went out training with a small group of folks, and it reinforced something that most everybody should probably know by now; even some really fast folks still don’t have the basics wired, and do lots of small, technical things wrong. 

You know what?

If you’re really damn fast, really damn strong, it means that you can screw up in lots of small ways and get away with it because you’re so damn strong. 

Might don’t make right, it just makes fast. 

If you don’t happen to have the giant engine that the front of the pack riders have, do you think you’re going to be able to get away with the same things they do?

Yeah… no.

So, please… don’t look to the local fast guy (or gal…) for technique tips. Better idea? Look for that rider who ain’t as obviously strong as all the folks they somehow manage to almost keep up with in the races. 

That’s almost certainly the person who’s getting all the little details right, eh?

So, on with today’s workout.

We’re going to do a bit of running today.

In fact, we’re going to do the same thing we did last Thursday, so check that post out here.

Well, maybe we are.

First, though, a couple of words about running.

Unless you live and/or race in Belgium – where you might just find yourself struggling through half-lap long mud pits – running just ain’t as important in cyclocross as it once was. 

If you’re going to skimp on one part of your training, guess what it should probably be.
Yup. The running part.

Odds are you can do really damn well in almost all the Cross racing you’re ever going to do without spending any time at all running outside of the races.

If you’ve got a job, kids, responsibilities outside of riding your damn bike? You need to maximize the efficiency of your training to get the most out of the limited time you have available.

Training is all about priorities, and running well is just simply a much lower priority than riding well. 

All that aside, though?

You do need to run in cross races, so even if you aren’t going to make it a priority in your training, you can’t afford to completely fall apart the first time you step off the bike.

So here’s what you do. 

Run at least a little bit now, before the season gets underway. 

Once the racing starts, you can let the running take care of itself, but if the first time you run at all is in a race?

It’s going to hurt. 

Maybe even enough to screw up your race.

If you haven’t run at all this season?

Run around the block tonight.

Like, literally around the block.

5-10 minutes. That’s it. 

Do it again tomorrow. 

Just around the block. No more than that. 

Finish your on the bike workout, then run around the block. Immediately after. 

Do that every day for a week, and you’ll probably be good to go in your first race, at least good enough to go.

Of course, if you’re up for it, and have the time, there’s always that running workout I linked to above.

That’ll get your running going. Guaranteed. 

But remember; that time spent running might be better spent riding yer damn bike. 

Have fun!
M

~ by crosssports on August 28, 2014.

Posted in Cyclocross, running, The Workout Of The Day
Tags: Bicycle racing, bike racing, cx classes, cx handling drills, cx intervals, CX practice, cx skills, CXWOTD, Cycling, Cyclo-cross, Cyclocross, cyclocross classes, cyclocross handling drills, cyclocross instruction, cyclocross intervals, Cyclocross Practice, cyclocross skills, cyclocross workouts, Fitness, Health, Heart rate, Howy folks, Intervals, Marymoor CX, Marymoor cyclocross, Marymoor practice, Personal Training, Physical exercise, Running, s: Aerobic exercise, Seattle, Sports, The Workout Of The Day Tags: Bicycle pedal, wootd, WOTD, XC Racing