Question: I’m 32 years old and began racing four months ago. During the last four weeks, I’ve competed seven times in criteriums and road races. Now my legs are dead and I have a big race in three weeks. How can I “freshen up” for this event? — Allan K. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: It’s not…
Question: I have an important duathlon coming up in three weeks. I’m very fit and my recent races have been personal bests or close to them. But I’m worried about what to do between now and the big event so I don’t overtrain but still stay sharp. The cycling portion will be 25 miles. —…
Question: I rode about 6,000 miles last year. But because of work, I won’t be riding for five weeks. What will this layoff do to my riding and fitness? How long will I have to train before I get back to my usual fitness level? — David C. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Detraining usually happens quickly…
Question: I’m a long-time runner who recently switched to cycling due to knee problems. My injuries limited me to about 30 running miles per week, but now I can ride as much as I want and often do 300 miles per week. I always felt fresh and ready to run races, but now I often…
Question: I race competitively on the road, totaling 300-400 miles per week. I make one week in every four a recovery week when I just roll around for 200 miles without any hard efforts. The problem is that after a week of taking it easy, I don’t feel refreshed. In fact, I feel more sluggish…
