Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR TRAINING IS WORKING | Olympian Haley Smith | Ask a Cycling Coach 552
Sep 25, 2025
Olympian Haley Smith shares her insights on training effectiveness and mindset strategies. She breaks down how to evaluate a training year by looking at mood, sleep, and performance trends. Haley discusses her journey with RED-S and the impact of increasing carbohydrates on her energy levels and mental health. She emphasizes the importance of managing expectations and utilizing mental tools like journaling and mantras to stay focused. Plus, she reflects on her challenges and victories, including lessons learned from her performance at major races.
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Riding Into A Stage Race Rhythm
- Haley struggled on day one of Cape Epic after flying from -25°C to +35°C and felt she might not finish.
- She improved every day and finished wanting more because she loved the simplicity and rhythm of stage racing.
Recognize When Training Is Unproductive
- Flat power numbers, constant fatigue, lowered mood, frequent illness and small injuries signaled Haley she was overreaching.
- These subjective and objective markers indicated inadequate recovery or too much load for her adaptation capacity.
Use Mood And Sleep To Gauge Fatigue
- Use mood and sleep rebound to tell productive fatigue from maladaptation; look for days where mood recovers after rest.
- If low mood and fatigue persist through rest days, back off and reassess load or recovery.