Offseason Fitness: Use It and Lose It

In our modern endurance world, there really is no offseason for coaches! We have athletes racing SOMETHING 12 months out of the year so there is always someone building, someone tapering, and someone we are trying to track down and see if they're still alive.

One of the nice benefits of training hard and building a wealth of fitness throughout the year is that when your "A" race is done, you still have a depository of that fitness you can take withdrawals from.

Losing Fitness in the Offseason

Many people panic and try to get back to training quickly after a big race because they don't want to lose fitness in the offseason, but losing fitness is an important part of the development process. It doesn't mean you need a 3-week offseason after every race, but some breaks in the year are required. Some phases of BIG training are also required.

I've always found the time 3-6 weeks after a big event super fun because fitness is quite high, but so is freshness. And if you've been training hard all year, you may have forgotten what it feels like to be fresh. If you are an Ironman athlete, 4 weeks post-Ironman might be a fun time to try your first Zwift race, jump in a cyclocross, or run a hard 10k. Give yourself a chance to see some peak HR values and taste a little blood. For others, it might sound more fun to do a massive adventure ride or run (or swim!) across some beautiful terrain.

Mixing It Up in the Offseason Is Good

Jumping in a mixture of these types of events is super good for us because A) there is no pressure and B) it's good to do things outside our comfort zone. I'm a big believer that experiencing a range of discomforts keeps us young (psychologically) and also reminds our bodies where the outer limits truly are. As Cam Wurf said- if you're not living on the edge, then you're taking up too much space!

If you've been all-in on your goals this year and are super fried after your big event, that's fine too. I often find the amount of rest we need following our "A" race comes down to how psychologically we were committed to that goal and for how much of the year. The mental toll is often more severe than the physical.

But if you find yourself with some juice left in your battery and a little fitness there as well, talk to your coach and find something fun that lets you drain the tank before you take your offseason break!

Skills & Recovery Plan for Triathlon

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