The competitive season is coming to an end, we are entering a period of transition between what we have done and what we will have to do, now let's see how to deal with it.
The off season is a strategic moment for every athlete, both professional and amateur. It is the time of year to regenerate the body and mind, analyzing what has been done, to better plan future commitments
Rest: active or absolute?
They are two components to be evaluated well, but the answer could be the following: both.
In fact it is important to take a moment of complete detachment, where to stop training to let the body regenerate; the mind has to lower the level of intensity to which it has been subjected for several months, focusing on other than physical effort. A period that can last a couple of weeks to be followed by another two or three weeks in which to start putting into action the dynamics of what we could define active rest.
Active rest, what is it about?
We are all people who like physical activity, we need the adrenaline that is released during a long ride, or when driving on a challenging trail; for this reason it becomes difficult and sometimes counterproductive to switch off the engine for too long. therefore after the two weeks of total detachment, it is advisable to resume a move your muscles.
The meaning of active rest is precisely this, to resume training, diversifying the stimuli, in order to continue the process of mental regeneration without lowering our state of form too much. It is possible to approach any physical activity, having the only attention to preserve the main characteristics of our discipline. for which resistance and technical ability, qualities now necessary in every MTB specialty.
Make way for the imagination
A basketball game with friends, climbing sessions, tennis or the various group activities that take place in the gym, are all activities that can find space in this phase. As we will see later, some of these can also accompany us in the period of general preparation, but for now let's limit ourselves to experimenting with new activities, which can give our body different coordinative stimuli and reinvigorate in us the desire to play sports, which often at the end season may fail.
In this way we try to always put more space than the season just ended, in order to let go of his mental patterns and the habits we have built up over the months of racing. This is because one of the fundamental rules of modern competition is constant change. The means, and consequently the driving techniques, are constantly changing; there is a constant evolution of the tracks, of the training methodological solutions and of the tools to be used. for this reason the athlete must have a constant elasticity that allows him to adapt to continue winning. The off-season must also have this function, interrupting the schemes of a year to restructure them for the following season.
The most vivid example of this continuous adaptation is certainly Shurter; capable of devouring at least three different generations of athletes, strong like him or more, but unable to manage stress for many years, or not sufficiently elastic to adapt to the changes that the world country crossover has seen in recent years.
The relationship with one's collaborators
This is the time to take stock of the situation with the people who help you get the results you want. From the coach, to the therapist, passing through the mechanic, the mental coach and the nutritionist. It is not said that every athlete has a complete working group at his disposal, but it is clear that taking stock of the situation is essential to continue. Just as it is increasingly important to try to create a team work, where each member dialogues with the others, like the parts of a puzzle in which everything must fit together.
How much to train?
It is difficult to be able to give a precise answer; it depends a lot on the level we are talking about and the time we can devote to sport. for younger guys, who have the opportunity to train even during the week, I would recommend leaving Saturday or Sunday free. This is to be able to dedicate himself to evenings with friends without the thought of the next morning session. For the rest I would advise not to go below the three seventh workouts and not to exceed 5 sessions.
summing up
- 2 weeks of absolute rest
- 2/3 weeks in which to resume physical activity, perhaps including alternative sports but always maintaining a minimum degree of resistance.
- keep between a minimum of 3 workouts per week and do not exceed 5 sessions
