Empirical Cycling Podcast Ten Minute Tips #57: Our Coaches Answer Your Training Questions
Jun 9, 2025
A panel of coaches tackles whether mid-season breaks truly derail fitness, revealing how strategic rest can boost performance. They discuss the challenge of overtraining in young athletes and the importance of balanced training. The coaches also emphasize balancing intensity with volume, addressing how life stress can impact training. Communicating effectively with coaches is vital for cyclists, while setting process goals can bring joy and fulfillment beyond race results. Finally, they stress nourishing workouts over strict diet rules.
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Mid-Season Break Benefits
- Taking a mid-season break will not ruin your fitness; it helps recovery and long-term performance.
- Proper rest often leads to even better power and fitness after a short ramp-up period.
Manage Burnout & Disappointment
- Manage burnout with scheduled rest and realistic goals.
- Focus on controlling your process, not just race outcomes to mitigate disappointment.
Youth & Overtraining Risk
- Young athletes are vulnerable to overtraining just like adults.
- Maturity, training history, and growth stages play a big role in training risk and management.