Progressive Cycle Coaching
Progressive Cycle Coaching
Importance of monitoring your training programme
One common problem that I have experienced when training clients is that the client underestimates the importance of monitoring their training programme. Monitoring the training programme is one of the three key principles to training and allows me to know how the rider is performing on the training programme. The other two principles are the training prescription and mental/physical assessment.
 
Neglecting monitoring of the programme would equate to a ship trying to get to port without any indication of its speed or the state of the ship (has hit any icebergs on the way or if the propeller is just about to drop off?). The course may have been set (your training programme) and it may know it would like to get to port (your goal) but it does not know if it will get there! Without this information the captain cannot know how to modify course or speed. Resulting in the ship either breaking down en-voyage and/or not getting to the port in the quickest time possible!
 
So the monitoring of your programme should be paramount to your training, it will provide a record of training over the period and will highlight areas to work on within your programme. This information is then assessed by myself (for PERFORMER and ELITE clients) to know whether you're training needs to be modified.
 
Benefits of jotting down your training results daily are:
·          Increased training discipline
·          Adherence to the training programme
·          Helps to record any personal experiences
·          Helps to control training
·          Allows to learn from past experiences
·          Allows future training programmes to be adapted from the diary information
·          Helps to monitor a wide range of variables within training.
The diary will also help to monitor the small changes that occur in your fitness levels over a period of time. It will also monitor any effects of over-reaching and over-training.
 
The Training Diary
 
The following explains the how to fill out your training diary and what information you should be recording. Various aspects of training can be monitored these are:
               
·          Resting heart rate
·          Weight
·          Sleep pattern
·          Feel good factor
·          Time spent in heart rate zones
·          Effort and total training times
·          Time spent stretching, in the gym and having physiotherapy and
·          General comments on training
 
This information should be monitored daily and recorded in your training diary. You should be aiming to fill out as much of the information as possible on the each day of your training diary.



Next time we will make you aware that training is very much like an experiment! So watch out for the next installment.
 
About Progressive Cycle Coaching
Progressive Cycle Coaching is a dynamic customer lead business that provides cycle coaching training programmes to cyclists of all levels throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the world. The company, which is based in Burgess Hill, started out in 2006 and has over 15 years experience in the cycling sector.

With individually designed training programmes and expert coaches, the company provides a professional cycle coaching experience to cyclists and clubs at all levels. The service is designed to increase clients fitness levels, understanding of training and increase their knowledge of cycling based skills, helping clients to race faster and longer over a short period or over a year or four year cycle.