Coach Carter

Well, its been a busy 3 weeks catching up with my riders - lab tests, rider mid year reviews (and copius coffee drinking). One thing that has really struck me this year is how many of the riders have 'matured' in their approaches to the sport, their training and their racing. The majority are now looking further into the future than before, indeed many of them developing 5 year plans. They appear to be less in a rush - very appropriate given some of the comments I wrote on last week's post. I'm really excited about some of the projects the riders have entrusted me with. I sense it in the riders too - in fact, some gave me the distinct impression they would be quite happy to quit racing for this season and start prep for next year!

This level of process can only be achieved by giving yourself chance to take stock. The athletes have used July to re-charge their batteries, and its time for them to re-build toward second half of the season goals. Having set them on their way, its now MY turn to re-charge the energy reserves as I head off on holiday for a week. I have to confess, its hard to let go - I was speaking with a friend tonight who is also self-employed. Although I am excited to be heading off on holiday, and I definitely need the break, I will miss my work, and miss the interaction with my athletes. I also know many of them will be racing, so there is always a part of me wondering how they are getting on. At least going away and coming back mid-week, I only sacrifice one weekend of race updates!

But, as with each training athlete, no matter how much you love doing something, to back off allows you to miss it in your life and re-enter with new rigour and motivation. I will re-start work on the 5th with that: and its a nice thought to be settling down in front of my PC that morning with a cup of coffee and a whole two days to catch up on training files and training plans to create. I've deliberately planned it this year so that I have two days to get settled in to work 'behind closed doors': returning to work on a Monday feels too much like 'Back to School'!

So, no blog post next week - but I am sure my week away in France will give me plenty of space to reflect in time for a wonderfully creative post on my return....no pressure!