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In between the admin of post season reviews and winter programme planning, I've had the pleasure of starting work with two new PBscience athletes. Out of coincidence, both riders have signed up to the platinum package offered by PBscience. This package offers the very best in cycle coaching and sport science support as all our clients have come to expect, but in addition, the rider gets to work with a nutritionist, and also gets extra support from me, their cycling coach.
Although the package is aimed at any athlete wanting to leave no stone unturned in their approach to training and performance, it so happens that both riders we tested this week in the lab are elite - Richard is a top time triallist in the UK, being the first rider to win the 10, 25 and 50 mile championships in one year back in 1995. My aim? To help him return to those heights. Nic, athlete number 2, on the other hand is at the start of his career but is certainly as impressive in his commitment to the sport: a pro based in Clermont Ferrand, central France, he made a 12 hour trip to come to Eastbourne for testing (I know, the mobile lab WOULD have been fun!). Nic saw "Mobie" at the Duo Normande a few weeks back, and contacted me soon after. Like with Richard, its an honour to be attracting riders of this class - and testament to how PBscience is becoming perceived.
With both athletes, the structure of our meetings was the same: a lab test to determine current fitness and establish training zones; and then a 3-way meeting with myself and Lucy-Ann, the resident nutritionist for PBscience. Working in a team brings so much more benefit to the athlete: a real team is formed; but also to me as the coach. Another perspective, new ideas, the enjoyment of a common project: its hard to put a worth on the shared energy created in such circumstances.
An athlete working with a cycling coach / sport scientist, and a nutritionist is able to address their training and performance more completely. As a coach, I often speak with my athletes about having a balance across the triad of training, nutrition and recovery - sports performance depends on all EQUALLY. Whether it be a need to consider the underlying health before adding the performance layers on top (i.e. nutrition for health then sports nutrition strategies); helping the athlete makes steps towards a leaner physique if performance is dependent on this (hill climbing, road racing); or developing fuelling strategies for races and recovery, both consultants ensure everything is optimised.
Adding Lucy-Ann's input has allowed me to grow the team at PBscience. I've already been experiencing the team work approach having had Dan on board for a month now. His help in the lab testing has been invaluable - as it allows me to take a step back and be more 'present' during the tests. Whilst he does the hands on work, like lactate sampling, equipment prep, I can really immerse myself in connecting with the athlete; watching them during tests gives me a lot of insight - it would be easy to approach lab tests on auto pilot, but if observe, you can pick up additional information not always obvious from the data collected and presented in a spreadsheet. Again, take Richard and Nic as examples of this - I might call them the PBscience twins, as their data was the same this week: same 'threshold' same 'maximum'.....but as Dan commented, two completely different styles of getting there. Richard was smoothness personified, hardly any upper body movement even at high intensity - as you might expect of a time triallist used to sustaining a high percentage of his maximum. At maximum, he simply stopped - sometimes these athletes catch you by surprise! Nic on the other hand fought all the way - in true road racing style, on the drops, edge of the saddle: in this instance, Dan and I felt like we were shouting 'Allez' for ages, expecting him to cave in - but no, he kept fighting, as if getting back onto the wheel in front.
Both athletes have amazing fitness, some of the highest numbers you will see.....my job now is to make them even more amazing - I'm excited by the challenges ahead, not just with Nic and Richard but with all of the athletes I coach - I feel very privileged to be working with them all....and its all about to kick off again in the journey towards 2010!
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