By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher
Just seven weeks ago RBR Premium Member Michael Povman asked us for advice on how to train for a 300K (187 miles). His longest ride to date had been an 80-miler. Coach John Hughes provided him with detailed recommendations in an Ask the Coach column: How Should I Best Train for a 300K?
On Sunday, Michael wrote Coach Hughes to let him know that he successfully completed his 300K:
“Hey, John. Just wanted to let you know that yesterday I successfully completed the 300K. I had a great time. I fell in with a good group early on and we pacelined together much of the way. That, combined with a relatively flat route and favorable winds, resulted in my finishing in 14 hours, 36 minutes, which was much better than my most optimistic projection. My legs are a little sore today but otherwise I feel pretty good. Thanks again for your help. Because of your advice I felt strong the whole way and it showed in the results. Now I am going to start thinking about a 400k.”
We love to hear good news like this and are always happy to offer whatever type of direct advice we can to our Premium Members.
Coach Hughes, of course, is a distance riding expert. No matter whether your “distance” ride this season is a metric century or a much longer brevet, he’s got numerous tips and techniques that can help you successfully complete your event(s) and reach your goal(s).
If you’re planning an endurance event and would like some solid coaching advice, you might check out Coach Hughes’ invaluable 3-eArticle, 49-page Endurance Training and Riding Bundle, which includes:
- Beyond the Century Hughes lays out an 8-week plan to build up to a century and then a 200-km ride (about 125 miles). He then describes a training plan to ride a 200 km every month. The article concludes with training plans for rides of 200, 300, 400, 600 and 1,000 km and longer (125, 187, 250, 375 and 625+ miles). Each plan includes both endurance riding and intensity training.
- Nutrition for 100K and Beyond describes how to fuel your engine before, during and after endurance rides and how to estimate your personal caloric burn rate while riding. It explains the importance of both carbohydrates and fat in fueling endurance riding and to meet your hydration and electrolyte requirements during rides of several hours and longer. It includes examples of different products and evaluates which are better at meeting your nutrition needs.
- Mastering the Long Ride gives you the skills you need to finish your endurance rides. Effective training provides your base, and proper nutrition gives you the fuel. The key to success is to use your smarts to complement your legs. The article describes how to prepare for a long ride, including planning your ride, preparing your equipment and nutrition and getting ready mentally for the challenge. It then discusses how to pace yourself, ride in groups, solve problems that may occur and what to do when you feel discouraged with tired legs during a ride.
The cost-saving 3-article bundle just $13.50 and, as always, just $11.48 for our Premium Members (includes their everyday 15% discount!).
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