Normally, it is best to start this effort with a bunch of really good IPA, a few episodes of Brew Dogs, and maybe a corn dog. Corn dogs really are good and go just so well with a Scottish Accent. If you do not believe me, then just check it here with kid president, he has it right, “corn dog for you, corn dog for you, corn dog for you…” It is a corn dog revolution after all. Plus, all is right with the world when you can have a corn dog on a stick. It will probably help you outrun the grizzly bear also.
In all seriousness, there is a motorcycle season that is starting to creep up on us. It will be here sooner than you know it. I know this because Dec 21 is almost upon us. It truly is a great day. It may seem rather random to you, but it is significant for 2 really great reasons. The first is kinda personal for me. It is the date my first daughter was born. She was kind cool as a kid, but also sort of a nuisance with all that drooling and leaking. Fortunately, she doesn’t really do that any more.
The lasting reason that is such a significant date, is that it is the official shortest day of the year. Days get longer each day from there. I do not want to get caught up on how short that day is, but rather make note of how much the days grow in length from there. Small amounts at first, but in a month you really do notice the difference. There is still a bunch of winter to go at that point, a lot of snow and a long time before the ground loosens up for a dirt bike. But, it is the little things.
If you are not started on a training program yet, you need to get with it. My theory is that by the 21st of Dec, you should be a few weeks into a plan. Everybody is a little bit different, but I know what works for me.
Strength training early on for about 6 weeks, then blending that with a little less strength and adding in some bigger endurance. After about 8 weeks of that, then you pull the strength down by a day or so per week and add more endurance as well as substitute some speed and intensity. For the last 4 weeks or so before the season of racing starts in earnest, it is all about getting some riding time and working on either endurance or intensity depending on where I feel I am at that point. If you have any interest, you can take a look at my log from last year where you will get a sense of just how week I am.
This year I am adding a new wrinkle with doing some Cross Country ski racing. I have not done that for a long time. I had a history of it, but it is really aerobic and may not really help me for the strength that I usually feel I need for motorcycle racing. But, I need to do some other things with myself this year. (XC ski racing, MTB Enduro racing, Motorcycle Enduro racing etc…)
Below is my race schedule for the first part of the year, at least as it stands now. I am working a lot of different things in, as you can see. It is time to start getting a little more versatile in my old age.
My 2015 schedule as it stands now.
I will try to get an old body ready for the abuse that schedule entails over the next months. Stay tuned, and I will let you know how it is going.
Thanks a ton to Pat’s Gym for building out a training plan for me. Thanks to Mary Grinaker for working out with me to optimize me training. If you are in the Madison area, they come highly recommended.
Out,
Joe
303 Off-road 