Let me ask you something: Are you training to check boxes… or are you training to win? I don’t mean “win” as in a podium finish (though hey, if that’s your goal, I’m here for it). I mean win as in showing up on race day stronger, sharper, and more confident than you’ve ever been. Because the truth is, the biggest gains don’t happen during race season—they happen right now, when nobody’s watching, when the medals are months away, and when consistency feels harder than ever. So today, I want to talk about three simple—but non-negotiable—pillars that will make or break your season: Rest, Adventure, and the OutSeason Grind. Let’s dive in.
1. Rest: The Hardest Workout You’ll Ever Schedule
Here’s the thing: Rest isn’t what happens when you’re too busy to train. It’s something you schedule with the same precision as your hardest bike intervals or long run. If you want to be stronger, you have to give your body the time and space to rebuild. Make Rest Days Count:
Here’s the thing: Rest isn’t what happens when you’re too busy to train. It’s something you schedule with the same precision as your hardest bike intervals or long run. If you want to be stronger, you have to give your body the time and space to rebuild. Make Rest Days Count:
- Block It Out: Put rest days on your calendar. Highlight them. Protect them.
- Keep It Active (Sometimes): A rest day doesn’t have to mean zero movement. A yoga session, a gentle swim, or an easy walk are perfect ways to stay loose without piling on fatigue.
- Fuel Smart: Rest days are still recovery days. Are you eating enough protein? Are you hydrating properly? Don’t shortchange your body when it’s doing the hard work of repairing itself.
- Listen to Your Body: If you’re feeling completely wrecked, lean into rest. If you’re just a little tired, a light spin or a stretch might be just what you need.
Think about this: Are you honoring your rest days the same way you honor your toughest training sessions?
2. Adventure: Fitness Isn’t Just for Race Day
Look, races are great. They’re milestones, they’re exciting, and they give us something to aim for. But they’re also rare. Out of 365 days, how many of them are actual race days? A handful.So what about the other weekends? If you’re only showing up for race days, you’re missing out on 90% of the fun. The fitness you’re building isn’t just for a finish line—it’s a passport to adventure. Plan an Adventure Weekend:
Look, races are great. They’re milestones, they’re exciting, and they give us something to aim for. But they’re also rare. Out of 365 days, how many of them are actual race days? A handful.So what about the other weekends? If you’re only showing up for race days, you’re missing out on 90% of the fun. The fitness you’re building isn’t just for a finish line—it’s a passport to adventure. Plan an Adventure Weekend:
- Big Ride Weekend: Pick a route you’ve never done before. Maybe it’s a century ride, or maybe it’s just a road that looks too gnarly on the map. Do it anyway.
- Trail Time: Find a challenging hiking or running trail and spend the day exploring.
- DIY Challenge: Create your own mini-race or endurance challenge. Invite some friends and make it an event.
- Fitness on Vacation: Traveling for the holidays? Plan a run around a new city or a sunrise swim in an open lake.
Ask yourself: When was the last time you used your fitness for fun? What weekend can you claim for yourself this month?
3. The OutSeason Grind: Where the Magic Happens
The OutSeason is often treated like “off-season light”—a holding pattern until the real work begins. But let me tell you something: this is where the biggest leaps happen. The OutSeason is your opportunity to build speed, strength, and durability without the looming pressure of race day. It’s when you can lean into hard intervals, embrace the burn, and stack up gains that’ll carry you through the rest of the year. Keys to Crushing the OutSeason:
The OutSeason is often treated like “off-season light”—a holding pattern until the real work begins. But let me tell you something: this is where the biggest leaps happen. The OutSeason is your opportunity to build speed, strength, and durability without the looming pressure of race day. It’s when you can lean into hard intervals, embrace the burn, and stack up gains that’ll carry you through the rest of the year. Keys to Crushing the OutSeason:
- Show Up with Intention: Every session has a purpose. Don’t just “get it done”—get it done right.
- Stick to the Rhythm: Midweek is for focused intensity; weekends are for building endurance. Don’t swap them around.
- One Day at a Time: Don’t let the big picture overwhelm you. Just nail today’s session. Tomorrow can wait.
- Recovery Is Part of the Grind: OutSeason work is tough. Respect your rest days and your recovery windows—they’re not optional.
Gut check: Are you treating your OutSeason sessions like placeholders… or are you showing up with purpose? Bringing It All TogetherThese three pillars—Rest, Adventure, and OutSeason Training—aren’t separate ideas. They’re a cycle. Rest refuels your body so you can show up strong. Adventure keeps you inspired and reminds you why you started this journey. And the OutSeason grind builds the strength and speed that will carry you to your best season yet. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to crush every single session. You just need to keep showing up, stacking wins, and trusting the process. So here’s your homework:
- Look at your calendar. Are your rest days protected?
- When’s your next adventure weekend? Plan it now.
- How are you showing up for your OutSeason sessions? Be honest.
The work you do now—the choices you make this week, this month—will define your season. Don’t leave it to chance. See you out there.
Coach P
Coach P
